Driver 8: A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

by G. Michael Hopf

  “I’m glad Dana’s sacrifice makes you feel better about us,” Cal growled. He looked at Dana and snapped, "This wasn't the plan we agreed upon."

  “No more arguing, this is a solid plan, I like it, I think Kyle’s on board too. All agree?” Tommy said.

  Everyone nodded.

  “Good, then we leave in forty-five minutes,” Kyle said.

  Dana walked over to Kyle and said, “You’re an asshole but thanks for supporting my plan.”

  “This is your idea?” Kyle asked.

  “Yeah, the entire thing,” Dana replied clearly proud of herself.

  “I’m impressed and don’t worry, we won’t let any of those guys hurt you. I just hope you’ll be able to pull a few of them away without incident.”

  Dana jiggled her chest and said, “I won’t have any trouble doing that.”

  SALINA, UTAH, ROCKY MOUNTAIN REPUBLIC

  “Line up and face out,” Earl hollered.

  Portia and the other women did what he ordered.

  Starting from the left, Candace worked her way down. “No, no, yes, no, yes, no, no, no, yes, yes.” She stepped in front of Portia and paused, “Sorry, sweetheart, you didn’t pass the grade.”

  Before she could step off, Portia grabbed her hand and pulled her close, “My husband might come looking for me, give him this.” She put her wedding ring in her hand. “Tell him where I went. My name is Portia, it’s etched on the inside of the ring.”

  “No talking!” Earl barked from the far end of the hall.

  Candace’s heart melted for her. She wrestled her hand away and whispered, “I’ll see what I can do.”

  Portia gazed at her left hand and the noticeable pale skin around her ring finger. Her mind went back to the day she and Kyle had gotten married and the first time he placed that ring on her hand. By giving the ring away, it was the last physical remnant of their love.

  “Do you have a problem?” Earl asked appearing out of nowhere.

  She snapped up and looked at him. “No problem, I just have to pee.”

  Earl chewed on the twig in between his teeth and pondered. “Down there,” he said pointing to a doorway at the far end of the bar area.

  “Thank you,” Portia said and scurried off. Once there she found a stall and closed the door behind her. Her heartrate was elevated and vertigo was setting in. “Pull it together,” she told herself.

  The door to the bathroom opened.

  Portia didn’t think about who might in the bathroom too until a tap on the stall door startled her. “It’s occupied.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m all about helping other women, especially the ones in our predicament, but I think you left out a piece of critical information,” Candace said.

  “What’s that?” Portia asked surprised Candace was eager to help.

  “His name?”

  Feeling stupid, she answered, “Kyle, his name is Kyle Grant.”

  “Got it. Now you better hurry up before your guy comes in here and drags you out by your hair.”

  Portia opened the stall door and peeked out.

  “Come on, let’s take you back,” Candace said offering her hand.

  “Why are you being so nice?” Portia asked taking Candace’s hand and exiting the stall.

  “Because I was in your shoes once before,” Candace replied.

  CHAPTER 7

  BATCHELOR GULCH, COLORADO, COLLECTIVE PROTECTED ZONE

  Up until Kyle was put underneath baskets of potatoes and turnips, he thought the plan was great, but now that he was lying in an inch of rotting vegetable slime and remnants of past deliveries left to decay in the bed, he reconsidered.

  “God it stinks,” Cal complained.

  “You and I have something to agree on,” Kyle said.

  “Hey guys, keep your mouth shut, we’re coming up on the main gate,” Dana barked through the sliding rear window of the truck’s cab.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Tommy quipped as he gave a half assed salute.

  Dana slowed the truck until she came to a full stop at the large metal gate that blocked the main drive towards the hotel. She manually rolled down the window on the old truck and greeted the guard, “Hi.”

  The guard looked at her then into the cab. “Hey, Dana,” he flirted.

  “Shift time,” she said.

  “Can you do me a favor?” the guard asked.

  “Sure, what do you need?”

  “Peanut butter, my wife has been talking about it non-stop. Any chance you have some you could spare?”

  “For you, anything, I’ll see what I can do,” Dana replied.

  “Thanks. I’ll radio ahead to have the guards keep the second gate open and to expect you at the loading dock, that way you can just go on up without further stopping,” the guard said as he gave her a wink.

  “Now, now, let’s not do something we’ll regret,” Dana flirted back.

  “Have a good shift,” the guard said stepping away from the window.

  Dana waved, rolled the window up and pulled away. When she was far enough she leaned back towards the open rear window and said, “Well boys, we’ll clear all the way through. Now remember, when we get to the loading dock, just stay put until I get the truck inside the bay.”

  The guys are replied their acknowledgement.

  Dana drove easily through the second gate and meandered her way to the rear of the hotel. The cover of night she hoped would be helpful when getting the men out of the back. Arriving at the loading dock, she backed the truck into a small loading bay, got out and closed the door. When the door slammed shut, she called out, “Hurry up, get out.”

  Kyle tossed the two baskets off him and jumped out of the back. The others followed.

  “My back is soaking wet,” Cal complained.

  Unfazed, Kyle asked, “Where’s the service elevator?”

  “This way, follow me,” Dana said and swiftly marched off towards a double set of doors.

  The men followed with their rifles at the ready. Once at the door, they stacked up while Dana opened the door and looked down the hallway. Seeing it was clear, she said, “No one is here, come, hurry.”

  With Kyle leading, they came through the door and turned right. Steps later they were standing in front of the service elevator.

  Dana hit the button and looked up to see the elevator was on Level Five. “Here is comes.”

  The elevator arrived with a ding. The doors opened and standing in the car was a guard. He looked at Kyle and hesitated for a second before reaching for his sidearm.

  Kyle raised the rifle and squeezed off two rounds, both striking him in the chest.

  The guard fell back against the wall of the elevator car but his chest plate armor prevented the rounds from penetrating.

  Seeing he was still alive, Kyle raised the muzzle and squeezed off one more shot. It struck him in the face and proved to be the kill shot.

  With the guard killed, everyone got on the elevator.

  Dana glanced down at the guard. She recognized who it was and couldn’t help but be a bit saddened that he was dead.

  Cal didn’t feel such remorse, he spit on the guard and snapped, “Fascist.”

  Dana hit the button for Level Five and stepped back. The doors closed and she turned to the others. “I’m stepping out first. I’ll go down to lure a few guards back. I need you to go left, head down to room five thirteen, the door will open without a lock.”

  Kyle nodded. He was very impressed with her, she was on point for sure. Eric and Cal, he could do without.

  The elevator reached Level Five.

  Everyone raised their rifles just in case but when the doors opened it was clear.

  Dana stepped out first and looked both ways. “Come on. Head down and remember, be quiet.”

  The men did as she said and hurried towards room five thirteen. Just before making a turn in the hall, Kyle looked back to see Dana unbuttoning her shirt.

  ***

  Dana took slow and measured breaths as she made her way towa
rds the presidential suite. Her plan was risky but she felt confident in men’s carnal desires clouding their judgement.

  Outside the suite’s door stood six guards. They were chatting and laughing, not displaying an ounce of professionalism. The lead guard, a man by the name of John, spotted her approaching. He had an eye already for Dana and would be easy pickings. “Look who’s here,” John said.

  The other guards looked and saw Dana coming.

  Dana stepped forward and said, “Hey guys. I thought I’d come up and see if Number One had mentioned what he may want for breakfast.”

  John noticed her top was unbuttoned to expose her cleavage and approached her. “Delicious Dana, oops, sorry, I meant Cook Twenty-two,” he laughed and continued, “You didn’t need to come all the way up here to ask that. Why don’t you tell me and the boys here why you really came up?”

  John was going for it right out the gate. It was a welcome surprise of which she was going to capitalize on. “You’re right. I could’ve just radioed but I wanted to see you,” she said expressing herself seductively.

  Aroused, John stepped forward and looked down her shirt. “I knew you had…um, boys, look,” John gushed staring at her cleavage.

  A strong feeling of disgust washed over her but she couldn’t let that show. She touched his chest and purred, “Would you like to see more?”

  “Are you fucking serious?” John asked.

  “I hate to say it, but I’ve been looking at you for some time. You’re all I can think about and when I got here, I just wanted to come up here and…” she said stopping herself to leave her desires a mystery.

  “And what?” John asked.

  She looked to John’s left and right and saw the others were just as excited as he was. “How about I show you?”

  Shocked by her proposition he looked back at the others for reassurance.

  One of the guards by the name of Chuck said, “Go ahead. Maybe I’ll get sloppy seconds.”

  This was Dana’s opening and she took it, “How about now?”

  “Me?” Chuck asked pointing at himself.

  “Yeah, and you too,” she said pointing at the man behind him.

  “I’m up for a four way,” he exclaimed.

  “Hold on, she’s mine,” John declared angrily.

  “Sssh, I want all of you at the same time,” she said leaning in close and whispering, “At the same time.”

  “Let’s go,” John said grabbing her forcibly by the arm and pulling her down the hallway but in the opposite direction.

  “No, wait, I have a room,” Dana said insistent.

  “I do to, come on,” John said pulling her hard. Chuck and the third guard, Tim, followed like puppies.

  “The room I have is clean.”

  “Who needs clean?” John asked and pulled her harder.

  “No cameras, I mean it’s clean because I know there’s no cameras, you guys don’t want to get caught doing this, do you?” Dana asked becoming increasingly concerned her plan was beginning to fall apart.

  John stopped and thought. “You’re right. Which room is it?”

  Dana’s fear melted away, she smiled and replied, “Room five thirteen.”

  THIRTY-THREE MILES SOUTHEAST OF SALINA, UTAH, ROCKY MOUNTAIN REPUBLIC

  Portia couldn’t sleep. Her life was upside down and soon she’d be someone’s slave to be used for any number of depraved desires. How could her life have turned so fast? Why? These were pointless questions to ask because they didn’t help her out of the situation she was in.

  Every uneven spot of road or pothole caused the truck to shudder and bounce.

  She had no idea where the next stop was but they’d been on the road for a few hours. Before she’d heard the drivers talking but didn’t hear this time. Did it matter? She thought. Probably not.

  Loud popping sounds came from outside the truck followed by dull thuds.

  To Portia is sounded like gunshots.

  The truck lurched hard to the right, then to the left and back to the right again. These severe turns through the women around in the back like rag dolls.

  “What’s going on?” a woman named Maggie asked.

  “I think we’re being shot at,” Portia answered just after slamming against the far wall of the trailer.

  The truck came to hard stop.

  The women were thrown towards the front of the trailer with several landing on top of the other.

  Gunfire rang out from outside. From the sounds of it the gunshots were coming from all directions.

  “What do we do?” a woman named Cecile asked.

  “Just lay here, don’t move,” Nancy replied.

  “No, grab something that can be used as a weapon. We don’t know who is attacking us, we must prepare to fight,” Portia said getting to her feet and rummaging around in the mostly dark trailer looking for something that she could use to fight back.

  “You don’t know who it is, you could provoke them to hurt us,” Nancy snapped.

  “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re under attack,” Portia countered running her hands along the floor of the trailer in hopes she’d find something soon.

  Screams came from what sounded like the cab of the truck followed by gunshots then silence.

  Portia paused her search and listened.

  “I think we should…” Nancy said before Portia interrupted her.

  “Be quiet,” she said just above a whisper. “Listen.”

  Portia and the nine other women sat silent, their ears scanning for any threatening sound.

  An uncomfortable silence blanketed them. Most of the women sat huddled together, holding each other but Portia who was near the doors.

  What’s going on? Portia asked herself.

  Heavy banging on both sides of the truck made them jump, and caused several women to cry out. Seconds later, a clanging and screeching of tortured metal came from the back door.

  Portia scrambled for something to use but came up empty handed.

  The door flew open. Standing in the orange glow of torches were six Generates, their bodies smeared with fresh blood.

  Needing to put space in between them and her, Portia ran to the back of the trailer just as the other women cried out in terror.

  The Generates didn’t move, they stood staring inside the trailer.

  “What’s in there?” a booming voice said in the darkness.

  The Generate closest to the door, replied, “Women.”

  “Good, more fresh meat. Pull them out,” the voice ordered.

  The six Generates leapt inside the trailer with cat like agility and rushed towards the screaming women. Portia thought to fight and when the first Generate reached her, she did just that. The only weapons she had were her fists and she lashed out, striking the first Generate in the face with several blows. Inspired by Portia, the other women also began to fight, punching and kicking the other Generates as they came at them.

  The fight was short lived as more Generates poured into the trailer and subdued Portia and the women. One by one, they were dragged out of the trailer, their arms and legs bound and tied together behind their backs in what is known as a hogtie.

  As Portia was carried past the cab of the truck she saw the carnage inflicted on Earl and his partner.

  Earl grunted signaling to the Generates he was still alive, who promptly responded by tying him up and carrying him along with the women.

  Just when Portia thought her life was upside down, it found a way to get worse.

  BATCHELOR GULCH, COLORADO, COLLECTIVE PROTECTED ZONE

  Dana pushed the door of room five thirteen open and found it pitch black. She stepped inside quickly, disappearing into the darkness.

  Following close behind, John entered and tried the light switch at the entrance but it didn’t work. “Hey where did you go?” he asked walking further into the darkened room.

  “I like it in the dark,” Dana whispered from the far corner of the room.


  John walked towards her voice with Chuck and Tim on his heels. “Are you hiding?” John asked feeling around until he walked into the bed.

  “Over here,” Dana called out.

  John tripped and fell down, “Oh, come on this is bullshit.”

  The door slammed shut ridding the room of the little light there had been from the hall lights.

  “What the hell, Dana?” John barked getting back to his feet.

  The lights came on blinding the three men as they shielded their eyes. By the time they adjusted to the light, Kyle, Tommy, Cal and Eric opened up on them with their handguns. A dozen and a half rounds later, John was lying on the bed wounded fatally while Tim and Chuck were sprawled on the floor dead, blood oozing from several wounds in their chest, back and head.

  Dana watched with joy at the sight of her enemies lying dead and wounded.

  John reached out to her, “Help.”

  She looked at Cal, who handed her the pistol he was using, walked over to John, placed the muzzle against John’s forehead and said, “You’re a piece of shit.” She squeezed the trigger once.

  The single forty-five caliber round exploded out of the back of John’s skull, splattering blood and brain matter over the bed.

  Kyle nodded his approval and caught Dana’s eye. She winked and handed the pistol back to Cal. “There’s three more at the door. Put a fresh magazine in and I’ll go finish the job.”

  “You will?” Cal asked.

  Before she could reply, Kyle said, “Makes sense, seeing her isn’t out of the ordinary; seeing us roll up would cause alarms to go off.”

  Cal reluctantly put a fresh magazine in the pistol and handed it back to her. “Be careful.”

  She nodded and said, “Follow me, stop at the last turn, when you hear me whistle come on down. Eric do you have the charges to blow the door?”

  “Yes,” Eric answered tapping a large green satchel.

  Kyle gave Tommy an odd look and asked, “You guys are really impressing me today. Exactly what are we doing here? You could have done this all by yourselves.”