by Maxey, Phil
He went to talk when everyone heard the waft of air as Copeland took to the air, quickly being lost amongst the darkness above. Joel turned to Kizzy and Amos, both with rifles across their backs. “Keep the path to this jetty clear. Use the radio if that becomes a problem.” They nodded and jumped off to the planks of wood.
He looked at Dalton, Nelson and Corine. “Let me know when you first see the vamps. Then keep them from the church long enough for us to get the kids back here.” Each nodded, then jumped down to the jetty and kept on going, following Kizzy and Amos. He then turned to the boy looking scared, and nodded to the radio in his hand. “Any vamps get close to this boat, you let me know. Anyone who’s close enough will get back here. Okay?”
Barry nodded.
Anna kneeled in front of the boy. “Stay on the boat and you’ll be fine. We should’t be long. Okay?”
He nodded and she got up and jumped to the jetty, then quickly tossed the canisters to Joel, who stored them, then joined her. They swiftly ran along the narrow causeway, bounding across gaps in the wood with waves a few feet below and stepped off to a concrete path, moving past Kizzy and Amos, then continued across a parking lot, their enhanced vision helping them avoid abandoned rusting bicycles then cars when they moved onto the road. The hills loomed large beyond the town and the slight buzzing he had felt on the boat had become an ache. “They’re getting closer,” he said as they ran.
Retracing their steps best they could remember, they moved deeper into the built up area of stores and hotels, moving quickly along narrow streets, until finally their destination appeared atop a small hill. The white walls of the church glistened amongst the moonlight.
They didn’t walk far into the garden before they heard a shotgun cock and were bathed in a light. Hector was standing near the entrance, two barrels and a flashlight pointing at them.
“You said you would leave!”
Anna held her arms up and stepped forward slowly.
“Don’t come any closer or I’ll shoot!”
Joel concentrated between the surging presence in his mind and the sound of the shotgun’s trigger. If either changed he was going to have to act fast.
Anna stopped. “Hector! They’re coming. Vamps, thousands of them!”
He scoffed. “We are a small village, why would they…” He noticed Joel holding the side of his head as if the FBI operator had a headache. “What’s wrong with him?”
“He can feel them. He knows when—”
Joel’s radio came alive with Dalton’s voice. “Picking up the stink. They’re a few miles out and moving fast. Over.”
Horror then anger spread across the old man’s face. He stepped back waving a finger at the two in front of him. “You brought them here! You have brought the evil to this town!”
Joel stepped forward ignoring the gun flick in his direction. “Look old man, we don’t have time for this. A wave of certain death is going to sweep through here, turning everything into dust. If you want to stay, that’s on you, but the kids are coming with us!”
The old man grimaced.
Anna took a tentative step forward. “Hector, there will be plenty of churches where we are going. You can start again, where there will be no vamps. I will help you, but please for the sake of the children, we have to go now.”
He shook his head until his frustration gave way to resignation. “Fine!” He turned and ran to the door at the back. Anna following, then ran down a narrow set of stairs to a basement area. Joel held the radio to his mouth. “We’re coming to the jetty with the kids now. Any sign of the vamps? Over.”
“Oh yeah…” said Dalton quietly. “They coming into the town from the hills.”
“Get back to the church with Nelson and Corine. Over.” Joel ran to the door at the back and descended into the bowls beneath the church, moving along a narrow corridor and then following the noise to an open doorway of a much larger room full of beds, a kitchen area and kids. Hector and Anna were busily placing coats and backpacks on them.
“Ramon, leave your toys,” said Hector to a small boy in Spanish. “Just bring the bag with your other things.”
Anna quickly moved from child to child, making sure they were ready.
“We gotta go Anna,” said Joel. She nodded as static and noise came from his radio. He held it to his lips. “Dalton? Kizzy?” Broken words came through the speaker that he couldn’t put a name to. He looked back at those in the room with him. “We’re leaving now!”
Hector gestured to the two tallest and presumably oldest children. “Layla, get to the front. Issac you at the back.” The nine children quickly formed a line. “Now we are ready to leave. Everyone stay close to me!”
Three blocks away, Dalton looked down from a tiled roof to a wide street. Despite the scant light provided by the moon, he could clearly see the sniffing, rancid creatures emerging from between buildings, adding to those already staggering along, forming larger groups, each being trying to locate what their hunger had been leading them towards. The nourishment of blood.
He looked higher to a window above a store, and Corine and Nelson looking back at him, then held his radio aloft and pointed back to the church. Nelson nodded and with the young woman moved out of sight.
A vamp’s head flicked up to the falling drapes and the creature moved towards the entrance, with another two following. Dalton went to rise, to draw their attention when an SUV that was parked out front, slid across the concrete flattening both creatures until it hit up against a nearby tree. Corine and Nelson ran out from an alley, across the road and down the side of the building Dalton was on top of, but not before other vamps further away, all in unison spotted them and surged forward.
He turned and dropped to the yard at the back near the two Alkrons. “They saw you! We gotta move!”
At the start of the jetty, Kizzy kept her head low to the ground. Hopefully the vamps moving slowly across the back of the beach wouldn’t look in their direction, but then one did. “Shit,” she said trying to sink even lower, Amos doing the same. After a few seconds of hoping they would move away, she dared to raise her head, her nose catching the smell of dried blood mixed with the scent of brine and sucked in a breath. Dark forms were now moving down the beach towards the parking lot and themselves.
Joel, Anna, Hector and the kids ran along a narrow side street, the children holding each others hands, with Layla holding Hector’s. Joel went to move left.
“No, no, derecho… right!” said Hector, pointing. “Down the alley over there!”
The group ran across the road, weaving around abandoned cars when one of the children screamed. Vamps poured around the corner building at the end of the street. Joel and Anna immediately ran in front of the kids, as Hector shepherded them past.
Joel scanned his surroundings. “Get them to the boat at the jetty!” he shouted at Hector, then ran forward, grabbing a metal street pole and with a heave snapped it from its base and tossed it to Anna just in time for her to swipe across the first vamp to reach them. Its head fell from its shoulders. Joel’s eyes were now black, his hands claws. He stepped forward, lifting a motorbike that was lying on its side, and ran forward throwing the bike into three more snarling creatures, smashing them against a wall. Spinning around he ran and sliced across a vamp that Anna was battling with, taking it to the ground, then grabbed her and together then ran into the alley, the vamps only yards behind. As they sprinted he held the radio to his mouth. “Everyone get to the jetty!”
The foul breath and growls were at their necks as they burst out onto the road to the parking lot, Hector and the children ahead. Gunshots accompanied neon streaks cutting the darkness and creatures alike, as hundreds of vamps converged from all sides.
Anna spun around spearing two vamps, but as she tried to dislodge the pole, dark angry forms lunged at her. Joel barreled into them, taking some down, but others sliced across him, sending burning sensations across his body. Resisting the pain he punched and smashed the creatures around him,
but more claws and fangs bit into him, pulling him down. He tried to stand, his own hybrid rage trying to keep him from being swallowed by the ferocious things on top of him, but their fury was too much.
Suddenly screeches and squelches added to the fury and the pressure from attacks fell away as he scrambled forward onto an empty patch of concrete. Some of the vamps were fighting the others. Above, a dark shadow hovered against the sky.
“Joel!” Anna’s voice came from somewhere behind. He tried to get to his feet, pushing a vamp away, but his strength had left with his blood. A gust of wind accompanied the winged beast swooping low across the lot, scything through the mass of creatures, creating a channel towards the jetty. Joel pushed himself up and staggered forward, ducking and punching when he could, and finally collapsed into Anna’s arms. She and Kizzy helped him onto the wooden platform, as Amos continually fired at the things that kept on coming.
“Where are—”
The sound of a horn interrupted Joel’s question, being just audible over the chaos across the beach.
“There!” shouted Anna, pointing at headlights amongst the swarm. The car barreled through the vamps, smashing and crunching as it bumped and swerved over the sand and pebbles, and skidded to a stop at the start of the jetty. Dalton jumped off into a group of vamps, dispatching them to the ground.
Corine and Nelson jumped out, both running onto the jetty.
“Help me get him to the boat!” said Anna to Nelson, who took Joel’s other shoulder and quickly made their way past the young woman, who had her arm aloft.
“Get on the jetty!” shouted Corine to Dalton.
He turned and leaped the fifteen feet to the wooden beams behind her as the car lifted into the air. She waved her hand left, the vehicle moving the same, slamming into vamps, then again to the right, but there were too many of them, and they flooded past the car like ants. Others tore into the waves, and then the supports of the platform she was on, which tilted then fell forward taking her with it towards the hungry waiting creatures.
Just as a scream was about to release from her throat, clawed hands grabbed her shoulders, lifting her into the air.
Dalton, who had been ready to launch himself forward to try and grab her, watched Copeland glide through the sky taking Corine with him to the boat. He looked back at the vamps trying to climb up the rocks to get to him and roared, then turned and ran to the boat, leaping onboard and landing next to Corine and the others.
“They’re here!” shouted Amos on the bow.
The engine roared as it pulled from the dock, vamps climbing up then leaping from the end of the jetty and falling short, sinking below the waves.
“So long suckers!” shouted Barry to his left.
Amos turned, a smile across his face which turned to horror. Anna screamed out, as he lunged forward trying to push the boy away from the thing that had climbed over the handrail, but he was too late. The sound of wet meat being sliced filled the air just before a boom rang out exploding the creature’s skull.
Barry, his eyes wide and white collapsed to the ground as blood began to flow across the deck. Anna fell to his side, her knees already in a puddle of crimson liquid, desperately trying to pull the two flaps of skin across the boy’s waist, back together. “Someone help me!”
Corine threw her a blanket, while Joel unsteady on his legs, pulled open any cupboards around him, until finding a first aid box and as quickly as he could, moved outside, passing it to Anna who hands were red.
“No, no, come on Barry!”
Joel dropped to his knees by her side. “What can I do?”
Ignoring his question she pulled the gauze from the plastic box and pressed it against the gaping wound, but then they both heard the boy’s heart stutter then stop.
She turned him onto his back and started chest compressions. “You can’t die… no. I won’t let you!”
Blowing air into his lungs, she compressed his chest again, but Joel could hear there was no murmur from the muscle below her palm. He placed his hand on her arm, but she pushed it away.
“I’m not losing him!” Tears flowed from her eyes as she furiously worked.
The edge of Joel’s mind was picking up an argument happening in the main room inside, but his thoughts were with the woman in front of him, the woman he loved. “Anna… it’s too late. He doesn’t have a healing ab—”
“I can help him,” said a young voice from behind him.
Anna’s head fell to her chest, as she sobbed.
Joel looked around to Layla and Hector standing by her side. “What?”
“Let her help,” said the old man.
Anna spluttered then turned around, her eyes red, and watched as the young girl kneeled next to Barry then placed her hand on the boy’s lower back. Just as Joel and Anna realized the young girl’s eyes had turned black, Barry drew in a breath.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Carla studied the athletic looking hybrid who had just told her and everyone else of his plan to end the end of the world. She wasn’t sure if she believed it or him. Another immortal being from a long time ago who wanted to change things again. Anyway, the world was broken. There was no putting it back together.
“So… I would be like how I was before?” said Sasha looking at her hands.
Alfredo nodded.
“I’ve kinda gotten used to it…”
“And you have done this before?” said Evan.
“Yes, just before I entered my tomb.”
“Why didn’t it affect the kings?” said Carla.
“Their sarcophagi shielded them from the effects. As did mine.”
An idea bubbled up into Marina’s mind. “So you’ll become human?”
He nodded.
“All the vamps will be destroyed?” said Evan. “Everywhere?”
“The virus will be destroyed wherever it is, and in whoever it is in. Creatures that are mostly virus will die with the virus, but those who are mostly still human, such as those of us in this room, will merely return to normal.”
Everyone tried to understand what that meant for themselves and the world.
“You already had two tablets,” said Carla. “Why didn’t you use them to create the bomb again?”
“Individually the tablets are not that different to modern computers, although with vastly superior storage capacities, and of course they have enough power, if used once to destroy vamps within a few miles. But to destroy the scourge completely, to cover the entire planet requires all of them. Each tablet amplifying the others, similar to how a nuclear explosion works.”
“But it’s not going to actually be a nuclear explosion right?”
Alfredo shook his head. “No, this is a different kind of energy.”
“You have had all three tablets for two days,” said Evan. “Why didn’t you do it straight away?”
It was a thought that had crossed Marina’s mind too.
“Because the tablet you brought to the island is depleted. It required time to recharge.”
“How much time?” said Marina.
“Roughly four days…” said Sophia.
Carla quickly did the math. “So… it will be ready the day after tomorrow?”
“Yes. At first light…” He frowned. “But Galloway installed new security protocols when she arrived with the third tablet. She thinks the kings will try to steal them and she’s right. They will. Now we know there is a spy on the island—“ Carla shifted uneasily, Marina noticing the jump her in heart rate. “— there’s every chance they will try and steal them, and get them to the kings. They are guarded at the lab night and day, in a security vault. When my team and I work on them, there are soldiers present. Even using my abilities I am not able to take them without being detected… but together…”
Carla looked down in thought. “We might be able to get them.”
“Yes.”
“Won’t they know they’re missing?” said Shannon.
Marina looked at her. “Once we destr
oy the scourge it won’t matter.”
Sasha looked confused. “Why can’t we just tell the general? She will probably help!”
Carla looked at Marina. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the general…”
“What about her?” said Marina.
“I did some digging into what took off from the base last night. There was no flight plan logged, but I spoke to a technician, and he said he and his buddies were told to go home early. Thing is… he was late leaving, and saw a humvee pull up and two pilots get out and go into one of the Apache hangers. He left shortly after that, so didn’t see any aircraft take off. I wondered who had the juice to okay a secret nighttime flight, and from what I’m told it would have to have come from either the colonel or Galloway herself.”
Evan stood, concern across his face. “You’re telling us, the general is working for the corporation? I don’t believe it.”
Carla shook her head. “I don’t know about that. I just know, she or the colonel could have been the only officers who could have made a flight to the mountain top possible.” She noticed those around her lost in thought, especially Marina. “I’m getting the impression this is not exactly a shock to some of you…”
“Have you seen the conditions those that came with us from Jankle are being kept in?” said Marina.
“I know they were being kept in temporary housing in the industrial area when they arrived, but they had been moved on since then?”
Marina shook her head. “Turns out it’s not so temporary…”
“And they are taking their blood…” said Sophia.
Silence fell upon those in the study.
“I have known Winston for some years,” said Alfredo. “He’s a good man… and it would seem that things have changed since your group arrived…”
Evan shook his head. “I still can’t believe Galloway is working with the corporation. She fought against them every chance she got.”
Marina looked around the room. “Regardless of who the spy is, we need to get those tablets.”
