by Jai Williams
“Oh, I’m sorry, that sounds horrible” replied Roger.
“Yeah, it was. I never got to bury my parents but you get the chance to bury Hank and every day you’ll get to go out to where he’s buried and talk to him like he’s there. You’ll get to have some closure, something I never got,” replied Ronnie.
“I’ll do all of those things but when this world is finally back to what it once was, then I’ll have closure because we all promised each other that if one of us died we would get revenge for that person by fixing this world,” replied Roger as he wiped away his tears.
“Well I think it’s time to go back to your base, bury Hank, say a few words about why he was such a great man and then fix this messed-up world. Sound like a plan?” said Ronnie.
“Sounds good,” replied Roger. They headed off to catch up to Bruce and the others. Bruce, Jackson, Alan and Hank’s body had just left the front entrance of the police station when Ronnie and Roger caught up to them. They walked past the destroyed police cars and headed down the road towards the trucks that Captain Harris and the other were waiting by.
Captain Harris and Finn were leaning against the front of the front truck and they saw in the distance Ronnie to the far left, Roger to the far right, Alan beside Ronnie and Bruce and Jackson carrying Hank. At first, they assumed that he was hurt and couldn’t walk but the closer Hank’s body got, the more they could see that they were wrong. They finally approached Captain Harris and Finn. “What happened to Hank?” asked Captain Harris with a worried look.
“He ah, he...” replied Bruce with a sad look. Captain Harris got up close to Hank’s body and saw the cut through Hank’s neck.
“No-no. He was a good man. How did this happen?” asked Captain Harris.
“We were ambushed in a police station and we were split up. Hank ended up running to the cells and when we got to him it was too late and a guy stabbed Hank in his throat,” replied Bruce still with sadness in his eyes.
“Are all the men that ambushed you, dead?” asked Captain Harris.
“Yes sir. The town is now safe for us to drive through,” replied Bruce.
“I guess we should head off then, and give Hank a proper burial when we get back to our base,” replied Captain Harris.
Bruce and Jackson carried Hank’s body over to the back of the first truck and gently placed Hank inside. Bruce jumped in the back and stayed with Hank’s body. Captain Harris and Ronnie got in the front of the truck with Ronnie behind the steering wheel and Captain Harris in the passenger’s seat. Alan by himself got in the second truck behind the steering wheel and Roger and Jackson got in the third truck just like before and Finn got in the back where Alice was.
“Do you know how to drive?” asked Captain Harris.
“Yeah, I taught myself how to,” replied Ronnie with confidence, so they drove off through the town and an hour later they finally arrived at the place they were heading to.
The place was a small army base, which explained why the men were soldiers. The base was secured by a tall, long brick wall going around the place. The entrance had a tall steel gate that opened in the middle. Over the wall, there were two lookout towers and in each of them there was a man armed with a sniper. A soldier from inside the base, opened up the gate up so that the trucks could drive through. When they drove inside the base, they could see to the very right a quite long tent; on the same side a couple of feet away from that tent, they could see two smaller tents right next to each other and on the front of the tents, it had a red plus symbol, which indicated that they were med bays. Behind those tents far in the back, were a bunch of long tents, about six of them, and to the left of those tents, there was a large square tent.
“Park over there,” said Captain Harris as he pointed to his left, so Ronnie parked where there was one army truck like the one they were driving and where there were two army jeeps. The three trucks parked and all the men in the front seats of the trucks got out.
A soldier walked out of the large tent that was behind all the vehicles and headed over to Captain Harris. “It’s good to see you, sir,” said the soldier.
“It’s good to see you too, Dean,” replied Captain Harris. Dean looked about thirty-five years old; he had short brown hair pushed to the side and he was wearing an army outfit just like the others.
“Ronnie, I’d like you to meet Dean Grove, my second in command,” said Captain Harris.
Ronnie shook Dean’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Dean,” he said with a smile.
“It’s nice to meet you too,” replied Dean as he was shaking Ronnie’s hand.
“We met Ronnie and a couple of other people on our mission. Ronnie saved our lives,” said Captain Harris.
“Any man who saves my Captain and his soldiers is a good man in my book,” replied Dean as he gave Ronnie a smile.
Roger walked over to Captain Harris. “Captain, I think we need to get these people in the back of the trucks to med bay,” he said.
“Get the ones who are badly hurt first,” replied Captain Harris. Roger headed to the back of the truck he was in and started helping the men and women from the back of the truck to the med bay. Finn, Alice, Bruce, Alan, Stan, Jackson and Dave helped all the men and women get to the med bay. In the med bay there were a couple of nurses and a doctor. They one by one checked and helped the men and women with their cuts and bruising. All the soldiers and Dave headed back to where Captain Harris was, and Finn and Alice stayed with John and the three kids in the med bay.
Dean looked to all the soldiers. “It’s good to see you guys,” he said with a smile.
“It’s good to see you too,” replied Roger. Dean looked at Dave.
“Who are you?” he asked.
“I’m Dave,” said Dave as he stepped forward.
“Nice to meet you. Wait – where’s Hank?” asked Dean as he looked back and forth at all the men.
All the men gave Dean a sad look. “He ah…he didn’t make it,” said Captain Harris with a sad tone.
“Oh, that’s ah…that’s-that’s just…horrible to hear. He was a great man and soldier,” replied Dean with a saddened look.
“Yes, he was a great man and soldier and he will be missed,” replied Captain Harris.
“I just wish you had his body so that we could bury him,” said Dean.
“We do have his body. We weren’t going to leave him behind,” said Bruce.
“That’s good. We should dig a grave for him where the others are buried,” replied Dean.
Ronnie stepped forward. “I’ll help you dig,” he said.
“Okay, that’s nice of you. Follow me then,” replied Dean.
Ronnie followed Dean to a tent that was in front of the med bay and they entered it. It was a tent full of weapons, ammunition, explosives and tools. Dean picked up a shovel and handed it to Ronnie; he picked up one for himself and they headed out of the tent and from there they headed past the med bay, past a basketball court that was behind the large tent near the vehicles and there was an area of grass feet’s away from the basketball court. In the area of grass, there was a bunch of crosses stuck in the ground with dirt below them like holes had been dug there.
“I see you’ve lost quite a few people,” said Ronnie in a respectful way.
“Yeah, we have. Some died here and some died fighting just like Hank,” replied Dean.
“Hank was a good man. I believe he and I would have become good friends,” replied Ronnie.
“Hank was friendly guy and got along with everyone. He was a funny guy and now he’s dead. It seems like whatever we do in this world, we don’t make a difference,” replied Dean with zero faith.
“You’re second in command. That doesn’t sound like something a person second in command, would say,” replied Ronnie.
“I’m not saying I’m giving up, but I’m tired of burying body after body; it seems like that’s all this world has to offer–death,” replied Dean, giving Ronnie a sad stare.
“Take it from a guy who has
survived this world on his own for years. You don’t give up; you keep fighting until the end when we win – and we will win,” replied Ronnie with complete confidence.
“How do you know we’re going to win?” asked Dean.
“I dream it. I hope for it. I put all my faith in it because if you sit back and continue to watch this world burn, then you’re just as bad as the enemy,” replied Ronnie in a hopeful tone.
“I see you’re a man of god,” replied Dean.
“God, no. If God exists he wouldn’t have let this happen. If God exists he wouldn’t have watched a boy’s parent’s burn alive. No, the faith I have is not with God, it’s with the people in this world that want to fight back,” replied Ronnie as he reacted with a laugh to the word god.
Dean and Ronnie started digging a grave. Minute by minute the grave got bigger and deeper. They finally finished up and near the basketball court they saw Captain Harris, Bruce, Jackson and Roger holding one side of Hank each. Hank was wrapped in a white sheet so no one could see the horrible death he faced. A bunch of men and women from the base were walking behind them. Ronnie and Dean stepped away from the grave and Roger jumped into the grave; the others carrying Hank lowered his body to Roger, and he gently placed Hank’s body at the bottom of the grave.
Roger climbed out of the grave and the men and women came up near the grave and stood in a line so that they could pay their respects. One woman walked up and grabbed a bit of dirt from the dirt pile. “We will miss you, Hank,” she said as she threw the dirt in her hand in the grave, Hank’s body was in.
She walked to the side and a man walked up and grabbed some dirt in his hand. “You were a brave soldier,” he said as he tossed the dirt in the hole. Another person walked up and another and another, until all the men and women lined up were done.
Stan walked up and grabbed some dirt.
“What can I say about you, Hank? First of all, you were one funny guy. You were kind and caring, things that I’m not. You were someone who could’ve been a role model to kids. I will miss you, buddy,” he said as he chucked the dirt in his hand in the hole.
Roger walked up and grabbed some dirt from the pile. “You were a guy I could look up to. You had a great personality. You could impersonate nearly everyone’s voice; it was fun to hear. I remember the time you were standing outside the tent and we were inside and you started impersonating the Captain’s voice. You were pretending to confess all types of weird sex stuff you did, then the Captain showed up and you got in trouble, but it was funny. I’ll miss you, Hank,” he said as he threw dirt onto Hank.
Bruce walked up and grabbed some dirt from the pile. “Hank, you are gone but you will never be forgotten. We will continue to fight and we won’t stop until we win. We will do it for you,” he said as he sprinkled the dirt into Hank’s grave.
Alan walked up and grabbed a handful of dirt. “I remember the first time I saw you. I was a scared little boy and you were near my age and you put your hand over my shoulder and told me that everything was going to be ok and that you were going to protect me. I never doubted you, but this time I should’ve protected you. I’ll miss you,” he said as he tossed dirt into the hole.
Jackson walked forward and grabbed some dirt off the pile. “So much can be said about you. You have that way of just turning someone’s frown upside down. You always had to cheer people up like it was your job. Although your shoes cannot be filled, when I am feeling sad I will just remember your smile and that will cheer me up,” he said as he sprinkled dirt over Hank’s body.
Dean grabbed some dirt. “I wish I could’ve seen your face one last time but I can’t, so I will do what Ronnie said to me and fight until we win – and we will win. We will win for you,” he said as he threw dirt into Hank’s grave.
Captain Harris stepped forward and grabbed some dirt. “Hank, you are and will always be one of us. Your bravery and sacrifice will not be forgotten. As you look down at us from the clouds, you will soon get to see the world you once lived in, and that a promise. Hank Gibson, you will be missed,” he said as he tossed dirt onto Hank’s body. Captain Harris steeped back from the hole.
“I believe that Hank would’ve wanted you to say a few words at his funeral,” said Captain Harris as he looked at Ronnie, so Ronnie walked over to the pile of dirt and grabbed a handful of it.
“Well, I didn’t know Hank that well but I could tell he was a great man and a great brother. He told me how when back things were normal he used to always take his little brother to the ice cream store and get them both an ice cream. He told me that little memories like that are ones you should cherish. He seemed like a wise man and wherever he is now, I hope he finds peace,” he said as he threw dirt in Hank’s grave.
All the men, women and soldiers apart from Ronnie and Dean left Hank’s grave. Ronnie and Dean began to shovel the dirt into the hole Hank was in. They covered it up to the top and already on the ground near the grave there was a cross made and on it was carved Hank Gibson. Someone did it while Ronnie and Dean were digging the hole. Dean stuck the cross in the ground and slammed it in with the back of the shovel. Ronnie and Dean headed off. “So, you didn’t get to know Hank? Hank never got to tell you how he got here, did he?” asked Dean as they were walking.
“No,” replied Ronnie.
“Well, it’s a good one. I’ll tell you what, after we put these shovels back we’ll sit down and I’ll tell you about the great story of Hank,” replied Dean.
“That would be nice,” replied Ronnie with a smile…
Chapter Fourteen: Hank’s Story Part One
Ronnie and Dean entered the large tent that was near the basketball court and inside the tent were many tables and chair like ones you would see in school cafeterias. It was a dining tent. Ronnie and Dean went over to a table that was away from everyone else and sat down with Ronnie on one side and Dean on the other, so they were facing each other. “So, the story of Hank is a long one but it’s a good one,” said Dean.
Twenty years ago
The year was two thousand and sixteen, Hank was about ten years old, so he was young boy and he lived in a small, peaceful town with his father and brother Jamie. Hank was a joyful boy, always full of life. Sadly, his mother passed away when Hank was six, a year after his baby brother was born. Hank’s brother Jamie was five years younger than him and ever since his mother died, his father felt alone even though he had two sons, so Hank was the one who had to take care of his brother, feed him, clothe him, bathe him and teach him. So, Hank was the person Jamie looked up to; he came to him when he wanted something or just wanted to talk. Hank’s father was always working; it was what kept his mind busy. He worked at a restaurant as a chef, so Hank had to dedicate all of his childhood time looking after his brother. The older Jamie got the less Hank had to help him out like with bathing, clothing and feeding him. When Jamie was five, Hank was ten. Hank never went to school because he had to always look after Jamie but that didn’t mean that Hank didn’t want to learn new things. Hank taught himself new things every night after Jamie went to bed. Some nights, he’d learn maths, some nights he’d learn English and every night he’d always learn a different subject. Hank only saw his father when they were eating dinner or when he and Jamie went to see him at work. Although Hank’s father wasn’t around much, that didn’t mean he didn’t care about Hank and Jamie; he would always ask when he was at the table eating dinner with them, how their day was, what they got up to and what new things they’d learned, and every night they would say different things. One night, they’d say they were building a tree house, another night they’d say they watched movies. Hank and Jamie got up to all kinds of things; there was no limit to what they could do.
Every day, Hank took his brother to the ice cream store so he and Jamie could get an ice cream each. It was one of those moments when they could sit down, lick their ice creams and think to themselves that everything was going to be fine but what they didn’t know is that at this very moment criminals were breaking ou
t of prisons and killing innocent men, women and children, but that’s something they were going to find out real soon. A week later, Hank’s father headed to work while Hank and Jamie stayed home. They always woke up when their father was up, which was around nine or so in the morning, an hour before their father headed to work. Hank’s father worked from ten in the morning to ten at night; he would have at least an hour break so he wasn’t working flat out.
So, Hank every morning would pour Jamie his cereal and tell him what they were going to do all day. This day, which was going to change their lives forever, Hank decided that they were going to play in their tree house, so after breakfast they got dressed and left the house. Hank had a spare key so they weren’t locked out of the house or had to keep the backdoor open. Their tree house was in the backyard of one of their neighbours’ house, which their neighbours’ didn’t mind them doing. So, they would enter the backyard from the gate on the side of the house. They played in their treehouse for an hour or so; meanwhile trouble was heading their way.
Hank and Jamie headed to the ice cream store. They sat down inside, although sometimes they sat outside, depending on where there were seats available. While they were enjoying their ice cream, it started and by it, I mean a bunch of criminals came driving into the town Hank lived in. The criminals came in guns blazing, killing and running things over; some stopped and started smashing into shops, stealing and throwing things around. Some men and women who weren’t running from the violence started stealing stuff from shops too; it was like there bad side took over and they said, why the hell not? They’re doing it; let’s join them. The criminals didn’t shoot at those who were stealing stuff; in fact, they encouraged many others to do it.
There was chaos roaming the streets and Hank heard screaming and gunshots. “Stay here for a second. I’ll be back,” he said to Jamie. Hank walked out of the ice cream store and looked to his left, where many other people were looking, and all of a sudden he could see people turning the corner, running and screaming. Three cars skidded around the corner shooting, and all the people around Hank started running in the opposite direction. Hank, with a scared and horrified look on his face, pushed through the crowd of people to get back to Jamie, who he left sitting in the ice cream store, but when he entered the store and looked over to the seat where he left Jamie, he saw that Jamie wasn’t there. “JAMIE!” yelled Hank as he panicked. Hank looked around the store. “JAMIE, WHERE ARE YOU?” he yelled as he started panicking even more, but there was no reply. In fact, the whole store was empty. Hank heard a car stop. He turned around and saw four armed men exit a car, so Hank ran to the counter of the store, hopped over it and headed to the back room of the building. As Hank pushed the door open and shut it he saw to his left against the wall, three women and two men crouching. “Hide, kid. Quick,” said the closest man to Hank, so Hank hid with them.
