New World: Nick Smith Book one (Nick Smith Series 1)

by Stephen Birch

  Brett’s eyes suddenly became focused as his memory flooded back. He groaned then and felt the back of his head. It hurt badly but when he looked at his hand there was no blood on it.

  ‘The fucker tricked me!’

  ‘Fucking tricked you? It looks like he fucking massacred you!’ Dave stood up slowly and looked around. ‘You’re saying one man did all of this?’

  ‘Two.’ Brett hung his head. ‘There was two. Oh and some girls.’ Brett shook his head, then quickly regretted it as pain lanced across his eyes.

  ‘Fucking hell Brett! You’re fucking kidding me.’ Dave backed away a bit and looked around. There were at least two dead bodies. It looked like Gary was the other one who had blood pooling around him. There was also another of Brett’s blokes lying face down on the ground. It looked like Darren. ‘Two men and some girls? Did they have fucking machine guns or something?’ He looked around again. ‘And where’s Alex?’

  David Dean was standing with his back to the room looking out of the window of the large penthouse suite. He had a lovely view of the sea from this window and in the beginning it used to give him a great sense of pleasure. He had been struggling to remain pleased by it recently though. He was thirty eight years old but looked older, and he was beginning to wish that he wasn’t the leader of this community.

  In the beginning just after the virus and the trouble that had followed the remaining people had started to come down into the town centre. At the time most of them had looked to him for guidance. Some of them had even known him and most of them had known that he was a council member. It had been a natural decision for them to just follow his guidance.

  He had found the hotel for them. It was a good place for them all to clean up and live in. They even had electricity from the emergency supply generator in the basement. They had all worked as a team back then. Starting to collect other items that they needed from the town, they had begun to slowly form themselves into a small community. This had worked out very well at first and so more people had started to join them. The trouble was that a lot of the people coming in later had begun to question his right to lead them. Especially as that leadership had started to become a little oppressive. It had been necessary for him to put a small amount of rationing into force and it had also been necessary to create daily work schedules. Those people just hadn’t understood the sacrifices that had to be made for the good of the community. That was when he had made the mistake of recruiting Brett to help him deal with the discontented.

  The concealed danger was that David had started to like being in charge of this community, and he had started to make plans. He had started to perceive events on a grander scale. He had started to believe that he could turn his small community into a large community. At this time they were just recovering from the pandemic and making do in a hotel, but one day, who knew where it could lead. There didn’t appear to be any type of national government left and no one seemed to know what had happened worldwide.

  Brett had then started to cause him trouble. It was only small things at first. Like extra rations for himself and his men, or there was the odd report of him bullying someone. Recently though Brett had begun to cause much larger problems. Quite ironically he had gathered around himself all of the original dissenters plus all of the more aggressive members of the community. Brett had divided them at a time when they really needed to work together, but worst of all he had committed at least one murder to David’s knowledge. Unless something was done about Brett very soon he would either try to take over here at the hotel or he would decide to set up on his own. Both options would completely ruin everything that they had worked so hard to build here, and now there was this new catastrophe.

  David calmed himself by looking out across the sea. Yes some of his people had died and a lot of the others were questioning his right to lead them but he just might be able to turn this new situation to his advantage. Brett was sat behind him now in a chair before his large desk. He was holding an ice pack to the back of his head and groaning.

  David set a smile on his face and turned around. ‘So could you please tell me please Brett?’ he asked curiously. ‘How did two men manage to take out you, and your whole team?’

  Brett pushed the ice pack harder against his head and groaned a bit louder. Once again he wished that he had been a bit more with it when they had found him. He would have been able to come up with a much better story. By now the whole community was probably laughing at him behind his back. Brett squinted up at the skinny and suited leader of the community. He was silhouetted by the harsh light coming through the large window and it made his head hurt even more.

  ‘They weren’t just ordinary men though Dave!’ he complained.

  David cringed, the false smile dropping from his face. He hated the shortened version of his name. ‘In what way were they not ordinary men Brett?’ He slowly sat down in his chair and leant his thin arms on the polished wood of the desk, before looking at the brute in front of him. He must keep in mind that this man was a very dangerous animal. Probably even more dangerous now that he was in a corner. He leant back into his chair and crossed one suited leg over the other.

  ‘Oh for fucks sake Dave. It’s just you and me here. Do we have to play this stupid fucking game?’ Brett suddenly threw the ice pack onto the floor and stood up. His face was now an angry shade of red.

  David restrained himself from flinching. He couldn’t show any weakness now. He smiled again. ‘By game, I assume you mean the game of me being the leader of this community and you being a big hard man?’ David put his hands behind his head and leant back even further in his chair. His smile became real, but it was not intended for Brett. He had just come up with an idea.

  Brett put his huge hands on the desk and leant towards him. ‘Yeah!’ he answered harshly.

  David once again resisted the urge to flinch. ‘Well that game has suited you very well so far Brett,’ he told him. ‘It would be a shame to ruin it now wouldn’t it?’ He stopped smiling as Brett frowned at him. ‘Everyone knows that you are a hard man Brett,’ he explained. ‘You’re here to keep people in line. To make them conform are you not?’

  ‘Well yeah!’

  ‘So it’s in your interest that we maintain the game at all times isn’t it?’

  ‘Of course it is.’ Brett had gone from angry straight to confused, and his head was still killing him. He stood back up from the desk.

  ‘So how were these men different then? Please explain. Do you believe that this was an exploratory mission from another town maybe? Specialists sent in on some kind of combat mission to see if we can be taken over?’ He uncrossed his legs and leant forward in his chair, looking at Brett intently. ‘And maybe that’s why your team got taken out so easily?’

  Brett suddenly smiled as it became clear to him. ‘Yeah that’s it! I fuckin’ wondered how they got us like that.’ He sat back down in the chair. ‘A combat mission,’ he said thoughtfully.

  ‘Well then I assume that you must be commended for your bravery and your ability to survive what was obviously a ruthless attack on our community.’

  ‘Bloody right! We’ll make sure everybody knows what really happened.’ Brett stood up again. His headache was now almost forgotten and he was smiling broadly.

  David stared at the big man, hoping that Brett couldn’t see the dis-belief on his face. What in hell’s name caused him to ever trust this fool? He smiled back quickly. ‘Ok Brett, well done.’ He stood up. ‘Now it might be best if you just make sure that these two not ordinary men, the young boy, two girls and the woman don’t ever get the opportunity to tell their version of events. That would just ruin our little game wouldn’t it?’

  Brett frowned at him, confused all over again.

  David was smiling genuinely now. ‘I’ve already had a long discussion with Mervin before having him locked downstairs,’ he explained.

  Brett carried on frowning. ‘You locked him downstairs?’

  ‘Well we can’t have him just ta
lking to anybody at the moment. Can we?’

  Brett stopped frowning and nodded as the light of comprehension suddenly dawned on him. ‘No. You’re right Dave, he said. ‘You just leave it with me. I’ll get my own combat mission together. I promise you, we’ll have them by the end of today.’

  ‘It’s ok Brett.’ David told him, letting some of the tension leave his neck and shoulders. ‘I already have all the teams out looking for them.’ He sat back down. I have also made sure that the roads out of town are blocked. They will find it very hard to leave.’

  ‘I want to find them personally though Dave.’ Brett began turning red again.

  David waved his hand. ‘Better get to it then Brett. Combat missions don’t catch themselves.’ David waited until Brett was at the door. ‘Oh! And Brett,’ he then said, stopping the big man as he put his hand on the door handle.

  ‘Yeah?’ Brett turned his head back.

  ‘I’ve arranged your new team for you already,’ he told him. ‘It’s Andrew’s team actually and Andrew will now act as your second in command.’ He held up his hand. ‘Only until Mervin is well enough to take up his duties,’ he explained.

  Brett started frowning all over again. He knew that Andrew’s team was the most useful one in the community. He also knew that they were completely loyal to David. Andrew himself was a former Army Reserve captain and he had so far resisted any bullying tactics from him. ‘But I was gonna pick my own team! I don’t-’ Brett had turned right back around again.

  ‘It’s ok Brett!’ David interrupted him. ‘We have to move really fast on this don’t we? You can sort your new team out when all this trouble is over. Anyway, it’s all sorted for now. If you go and get some aspirin for your head I’ll get Andrew to meet you with your new team downstairs.’

  Chapter eighteen

  Beth had parked the car in a dark corner of the underground car park and she had turned the car off just as Nick had told her to. He found them by following the sounds they were making. Not that they were being noisy in any way. In fact they were learning to be quiet very quickly, he thought. The horrors of today had probably helped with that. All he could hear were the quiet shuffles of feet and the odd whisper as he came up to them in the dark.

  ‘Hi,’ he said quietly. ‘It’s only me. Please don’t scream or anything.’

  ‘Nick,’ Beth sagged in relief. Every time he went off on his own she half expected him to not come back. Why would he want to? She thought. All we’ve done is cause him trouble so far. Although she had to admit that he must have had his own fair share of trouble before they had met him. He certainly knew how to deal with it and she wasn’t sure what she thought about that. She wondered who he really was and how could he do such things?

  ‘We have lost them for now,’ he told her quietly. ‘But we will have to leave the car here.’

  ‘Bill’s in a bad way,’ she told him. ‘There’s no way he’s going to be able to walk very far.’

  ‘I don’t think we’ll have to for a while. In fact I think it will be best if we hide out somewhere and get some food and rest.

  ‘Who are they Nick?’ Beth asked him. ‘What were they going to do with us?’

  ‘I’m not sure, but I think it’s some kind of commune setup. We don’t have enough information to make a proper assessment yet.’

  ‘Will they look for us?’ she asked. She started biting at a knuckle nervously.

  ‘Depends on how big a setup they have and it depends on what they are after. It’s like I said. There are too many unknowns to make any decisions yet.’ Nick walked over to where Bill was leaning on the car. ‘Can you walk big fella?’ He asked him.

  ‘I’m not gonna win any races, but yeah. What’s the plan now then boss man?’

  Nick didn’t comment on the term boss man. He didn’t think that Bill was being funny. Also if being the boss man meant they all listened to him then it would help them all out. Even if didn't really want the job he knew without doubt that he was the best candidate for it.

  ‘We have to find somewhere to hide out for a while. We need food, water and rest, then we need to find out what we are dealing with here. How many of them there are would be a good start.

  ‘How will we find that out? Go visiting?’

  ‘Maybe. I will deal with that when we’ve found a safe place to hide,’ he told him. ‘Hopefully this car park is underneath the shops. Let’s go and take a look eh?’

  ‘Do you think you’d better put that away now?’ Bill pointed at the blood covered knife Nick was still holding.

  Nick looked down at it, realising that he had forgotten it was there. ‘I need to clean it first,’ he said, looking away.

  The girls had found some spare clothes in the back of the car and they were getting dressed. Unfortunately for Dan though, he had only the one set of clothes and he had left them on the beach. He was just standing there looking cold and miserable until Kay handed him a blanket. After that he just looked miserable.

  Beth had walked over as Nick was speaking to Bill. She purposely avoided looking at the knife. ‘There must be stairs somewhere,’ she said to them hopefully. ‘We were here last year but I’m afraid I can’t remember this car park.’

  ‘We’ll go take a look in a minute.’ Nick had been dreading asking this next question for about as long as he had thought about it.

  ‘I guess that my pack is still in the other car?’ he asked her.

  ‘Yeah sorry it’s so big that I didn’t even try to fit it in.’

  Nick was bitterly disappointed but he couldn’t really say anything. ‘It’s ok,’ he told her, but his mind was spinning. He’d lugged that big old rucksack around for a long time. There were things in there that were irreplaceable, and it wasn’t just the survival gear he’d collected. He would have to go back to that hotel as soon as he could.

  Beth noticed the look on his face. ‘Sorry,’ she said again. ‘I did throw a blanket over it and I locked the car.’ She paused then added, ‘we will be able to go back and get it. No one will know it’s there…We were rushing remember?’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Nick told her. ‘It’s fine. You had no chance of getting it and it was a stupid question.’

  Beth didn't like his disappointment but she also didn't understand how he’d even thought she would have been able to bring the great bloody thing when they were in such a panicked rush.

  Nick nodded at her then though and changed the subject. ‘I think we should be somewhere where cars can’t go,’ he said. ‘If they are looking for us they will be looking for us in a car at the moment.’ He turned to the others. ‘We need to go now everybody,’ he told them all. ‘Only bring any food or water we have left. We’re traveling light. If things work out we can always come back and get the other stuff.’

  ‘Do you want to clean that first?’ Beth asked him quietly, pointing but still not looking at the big knife that he held. She knew that his skill and that weapon had probably saved all of their lives today but she didn’t like to be reminded so vividly of what Nick was capable of doing. He seemed so totally free of any remorse. Once again she wondered just who he was. He could be so gentle and caring one minute, and a lethal killer the next.

  ‘Yeah,’ Nick answered, looking at it again as if he wasn’t sure why he had it. ‘Do you have any old rags or something?’

  Beth found him a small rag from the back of the car and Nick cleaned the large hunting knife then put it back into the sheath while the girls finished dressing. When everyone was ready he led the way across the car park looking for a stairway. When the electricity had been on there were probably lit signs showing the way out but now they had to pick their way slowly in the dark. They kept to the walls as they worked their way quietly around the basement until they finally found a door.

  Dan trailed sulkily at the back, barefoot and wrapped in his blanket. He felt like a useless idiot, as he remembered how he had run off with the girls when Nick and Bill had been fighting. As soon as he could he would ask Nick again to t
each him how to fight. He really liked Kay and they had been getting on really well. She hadn’t even looked at him since the fight with those men though. She probably thought he was a wimp, running off with the girls, leaving the real men to fight.

  ‘We go on from here completely silent,’ Nick told them quietly as he eased the door open slowly. ‘Absolutely no talking.’ He went through first, followed by Beth then Bill and then the girls.

  Sammy held the door for Dan and then he held it so that it closed silently, then they were in pitch black darkness. He followed the others, feeling his way up the steps. After a few seconds though, light beamed down as a door was opened above him.

  The door led out into a short corridor. At the end of the corridor was another door that opened out onto the street. Nick waited until they were all gathered together by the door.

  ‘What now?’ Beth asked, worried. ‘We can’t go outside. They might be out there waiting for us.’

  ‘Just hold on a second,’ Nick told her. ‘Let’s have a look.’ He turned the handle slowly and pulled the door open a crack, looking out. ‘These streets are pedestrianised,’ he said. ‘I can’t see anyone. I’m going to go out and take a look. If anyone is out there I’ll shout then run to lead them away. If I shout go back down.’

  ‘What then?’ she asked.

  Nick sighed, ‘I don’t know, ‘he admitted. You’ll have to hide. I’m running out of ideas.’ He shrugged. ‘I’m just betting on nobody being out there.’ He turned to face them. ‘I’m going to look for somewhere we can go straight to. When I get back and we all go out, we have to go at the run. Understand?’

  They all nodded.

  ‘We understand,’ Bill answered for them all.

  Nick opened the door and slipped out. They didn’t have to wait long. He was back ten seconds later.

  ‘It’s clear,’ he told them. ‘And there’s a shop just across from here. The front is smashed in and it’s obviously been looted, but it looks like a good place to start. Go out the door as quick as you can and run straight across the street. Ok?’