It was Gerard who broke the ice, taking the time to carefully explain what had happened to them on their way to the Oasis. He was succinct as he outlined every detail of their experience including their run in with Martin, their daring escape on foot and how Raj had met his fate.
Everyone in the room looked stunned. They were now homeless and on the run, but to have lost yet another of their group as well was devastating. This was shaping up to be one of the worst weeks they had experienced since the turn and a heavy silence hung over them as they tried to deal with the enormity of their situation in their own way.
Vincent and Lily left the room and closed the door. Lily shared her concerns with her husband, which were mainly to do with security and the safety of those at the Oasis. They both agreed that the best thing to do would be to bolster their defenses by putting on extra guards and keeping watch. The sun was starting to set and darkness would soon be upon them, so before they reentered the room Vincent mobilized the Shadowmen.
“You’re welcome to stay for as long as you need,” offered Lily. “We have the space and plenty of supplies. Besides, where else are you going to go?”
Reality struck. Those in the Armstrong group found Lily’s last comment hard to swallow. Their host meant well but it finally hit them, they were now homeless. Everything they knew, treasured and loved was now gone, all that remained were memories and each other. The eleven of them sat around the boardroom table that late afternoon, feeling despondent and a sense of loss.
“We can’t stay” said Josh, raising his hands to stop the protests before they started. “We have got trouble on our tail and these guys mean business. We can’t bring this on you, it isn’t fair and this is not your fight.” There was a mature, statesmanlike persona about him as he spoke. Olivia and Siobhan both sensed it and smiled, but for completely different reasons.
“It is fine Josh,” replied Lily. “We have the room and we have put on extra security for the night. We will look at what else we can do tomorrow.”
Before Josh could say another word his mother pressed down gently on his shoulder and answered on behalf of the group. “Thank you Lily, we appreciate your hospitality. Josh has told us how welcoming you are and we are truly grateful for all you are doing for us. Tomorrow after all, is another day.” She ended with a heavy sigh.
“Alright then, we will organize some beds for you and I will have some food prepared. You all must be starving.”
Tyler could not help himself. “Hell yeah!” He blushed when everyone turned to look at him. “I mean yeah, thanks.”
Light laughter.
As the sun set on the city that night the Armstrong’s replenished and refreshed themselves. Each of them claimed a bed in one of the cubicle spaces and a handful retired early. The rest sat around talking quietly about the events that had unfolded. Outside, evil lurked on the streets.
Vincent called for lights out once it got dark, just as a precaution. It was more of a recommendation than an order and as usual it was met with total compliance. The only light that remained came from a flickering candle inside the boardroom, where a small group had gathered for an impromptu meeting. Vincent sat opposite Jon and Josh as the three of them compared notes.
On the agenda were several topics, the most pressing of which was the impending danger and risk to the Oasis and all its inhabitants. The 4Horsemen were to be discussed, as was the island. Vincent however, shocked everyone when he opened proceedings on a completely unrelated topic.
“Change is coming. We have been experiencing a shift for a while now.” Turned to his wife as she entered the room with Olivia by her side. “A massive shift over the past month in fact. We have seen a huge downturn in numbers, both those passing through and those staying on. We don’t know what has caused this, it could just be a coincidence but we are very suspicious.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” interjected Josh, who was struggling to make the connection. “What does this have to do with the 4Horsemen and the fact that they are out there right now searching for us so they can kill us?”
“We have a general vibe that there is an exodus happening from the city. All this chatter about the island has got people chasing a dream. Whether it is real or not it hasn’t stopped any of them from leaving in search of it.”
“They want to believe in something,” said Jon. “People need hope Vincent.”
“I agree Jon, wholeheartedly. We know that many people see this as a ray of hope in this seriously messed up world, which is why they make it their quest. We get that and we also cannot blame them for doing so.”
“How many have you lost?”
Rubbing his cheeks Vincent thought for a moment. “More than we care to count sadly. Like I made known to young Josh here, there has also been a lot of chatter about another community, a large one on the other side of the city called The Stadium. From what we have been led to believe this place is massive.”
“Apparently,” added Lily, “there is even a market with fresh produce.”
“People don’t want to stay in the center of the city anymore. There is nothing for them here but pain, misery and emptiness. Because of this we fear that the Oasis has outlived its usefulness.”
Josh chewed his lip, mimicking his father who was doing the same.
Jon cleared his throat. “So what do you guys intend to do now?” he asked.
“We talked at length about this and feel that the time is right for us to move on as well. We have invested so much into this place, but without people it’s nothing.”
“Where will you go?” Olivia asked. She knew how hard it was to leave what you call home and everything you love and cherish behind.
“Well, to be frank that is up to you. There is safety in numbers and it would make sense to do this as a group.”
“You’re right, that does makes sense. We’ll need to give it some thought though.”
Vincent nodded in agreement, then continued. “Now, about these 4Horsemen characters. We have had no dealings with them and did not even know they existed until Josh and Siobhan mentioned them the last time they were here. However, since you were here last, we have had a few others here share their experiences with this lot. To be honest with you, they do not sound like fun at all. Like you said, they have this really relentless approach based on a really twisted religious ideal.”
“You got that right,” said Josh. “If you do not join them, they will kill you.”
“We have not heard one good thing about them and we are both so pleased that after your run in with them today that you are all ok.”
“All of us except poor Raj,” Jon said, solemnly.
“We are sorry for your loss,” said Lily, with compassion and understanding. “They will pay in the end, people like that always do.” She gave a yawn. “In saying that, I know this has been a very traumatic day for you. I think we all need to rest. “
“There is more to discuss darling,” said Vincent.
Lily sighed. “I am sure it can wait until the morning.”
It was a restless night for most as they struggled to shake off the hell they’d just endured. Some mourned their losses, especially Nikita, Tyler and Jon. Thoughts of the 4Horsemen and Martin plagued Siobhan and Josh that night. So troubled were they that for the first time publicly they bedded down together, neither caring who saw them or what rumors may come of it, they were simply too concerned with other things. As it turned out Zoe was the only one who noticed while drifting off to sleep and melting into delightful dreams of the attractive Irish girl.
Outside it was rather a bleak and overcast evening. A cold wind had blown in whipping through the streets of the city. The Shadowmen on patrol felt the cold that night, it cut to the bone driving those exposed to the elements into cover.
Vigilance never waned. Hidden in the shadows until their shift changed each of those on patrol remained on high alert. Nothing stirred in their neighborhood but dust until the sun rose the next morning and the good news of an incident
-free night filtered back to the Oasis the next morning.
Siobhan woke early. Stood at the full length window gazing out over the city. She had an uneasy sleep, troubled somewhat by the 4Horsemen and the man she despised most in this world – Martin Webber.
Josh too had struggled to sleep that night, unable to shake the image of Raj’s lifeless body dangling over his seatbelt in the upturned car. He closed his eyes as he woke and sighed, dressed and then made his way to Siobhan’s side at the window. Gave her a soft kiss on the back of her neck.
“Good morning ba...,” Josh bit his tongue, came within a hairs breadth of receiving a backhander. He corrected himself in a heartbeat, thus avoiding an early morning confrontation. “Good morning Siobhan.”
“Hey,” she replied, reaching up and placing a hand on his cheek.
They stood together staring out over the forsaken wasteland, marveling at the infrastructure and at the same time lamenting its ruin. From their vantage point they gained a different perspective of the desolation before them, this was a city that had completely perished and was now devoid of even the slightest heartbeat.
As the others from their group woke from their slumber they made their way to breakfast, mingling with everyone from the Oasis.
The quiet night outside was followed by a very busy and productive day inside. Many more discussions took place in the boardroom, the most significant of which centered on Vincent and Lily’s decision to abandon the Oasis. After heated debate the final call was made that they would leave within the week. This came as a bit of a shock to most of the residents who were informed that they had to start packing their possessions and readying themselves to vacate.
Day turned to night. The wind died and all remained quiet on the streets around the Oasis. Shadowmen patrolled the perimeter providing protection for those who slept soundly on the eighth floor high above.
Dawn broke. Sun streamed in through the floor to ceiling windows rousing the residents from their slumber. The morning routine was the same as every other. Breakfast had been prepared in the mess area and the early risers began milling around to get their share.
A commotion caught the attention of the latecomers, something was happening outside and a small congregation had formed at a far window to take a look. The gathering grew quickly, causing a degree of consternation amongst the breakfast crowd.
“Come on,” Tyler said to Josh, grabbing his brother by the arm. “Let’s go have a look. I hope it’s not what I think it is.” There was some trepidation in his voice.
Josh sprang to his feet, stuffed a large slice of fresh apple into his gob and headed off with Tyler for the window. Pushing their way through the growing crowd the Armstrong boys eventually made it to the glass, gasping as they looked down onto the street below.
4Horsemen!
Dozens of armed soldiers spilled from the rear of army troop carriers that had just pulled up outside. Several armed men were walking around the Volvo station-wagon parked on the street, confirming to others once they saw the supplies inside that this was one of the vehicles they had been looking for. The Oasis had been discovered.
Martin stepped forward eyeing the office buildings around him. He scoured each level of the building advancing upwards from floor to floor looking for signs of life. High above the morning sun was playing hide and seek behind small layers of light puffy clouds that wafted through the otherwise clear blue sky. The shifting sky made it difficult to see clearly through the windows.
As Martin’s gaze finally reached the eighth floor the sun disappeared momentarily and at that precise moment he caught a glimpse of the silhouettes standing at the window. As the sun reappeared the shapes vanished, but he had seen what he needed to see. Barking instructions loudly those around him got busy and the street became a hive of activity.
“Move!” yelled Vincent, instantly realizing the gravity of the situation. “We have to leave now!”
There was a sense of disbelief amongst those at the Oasis. Most simply stared at him, momentarily dazed and feeling as if their feet were encased in cement.
“Hurry up and move yourselves!” Vincent screamed at the top of his lungs.
Finally everyone sprang into action, no-one panicked and as quickly as they could they collected their belongings. They grabbed all they could carry before making their way down the stairwell in an orderly manner, backpacks over shoulders, rucksacks in hand. Many simply left with little more than the clothes they were wearing, not having had the chance to pack any of their possessions.
Once the floor had emptied Vincent, Josh and two of the Shadowmen remained. Josh confirmed the space was clear, finding himself standing in total disbelief that they were on the run yet again.
“Let’s get started,” said Vincent.
“Started?” Josh was confused.
“My friend, we will escape this place unscathed. You have my word on that!” He sounded confident. “I think it is important that we leave our uninvited guests a very nasty surprise.” A smiled curled up in one corner of his mouth.
“Ohhh... kay.” Josh was still in the dark, but went along with it anyway.
“Relax, this won’t take long. All the charges are in place, so all we have to do is set the trip wires.”
Josh finally clicked and smiled at the thought of extracting revenge on the 4Horsemen. He knew it was wrong to think like this, but he also knew it was right.
“This place is going to light up like a Christmas tree,” said one of the Shadowmen. He had a huge smile on his face.
Martin’s militia broke through the barricade and stormed the front door to the building flooding inside into the foyer. They immediately advanced to the stairwell and began their ascent to the eighth floor, footsteps echoing loudly as they stomped their way upward through the narrow passage.
With the utmost haste those from the Oasis fled through the rear of the building into a back alley. Lily headed the pack as they rounded a corner and headed down a deserted street. She was flanked by two others, one of whom was a tall thin older woman who was giving instructions from an open map she was reading. The other, a rotund middle-aged man held the butt of his rifle to his armpit as he panned ahead looking for any signs of trouble.
With only seconds to spare Josh, Vincent and the two Shadowmen sprinted through the doors to join them.
Explosives set. Job done!
Lily’s pace quickened one she saw her husband had joined the formation at the rear. She knew what was coming and it was vitally important that they get as far away as possible, as quickly as they could.
As her bony finger traced the streets on the map, the tall thin woman guided the group a safe distance from the Oasis. She and Lily had set a cracking speed and many were already exhausted, but no-one complained.
Suddenly, from behind them came a loud explosion that abruptly stopped everyone in their tracks. It was followed by another, with more loud booms following shortly afterwards. Those on the ground turned to see plumes of thick black smoke pouring from the windows of the eighth floor of the Oasis building behind them.
“Like a Christmas tree,” said the same member of the Shadowmen who had earlier issued the warning.
30
Exodus
Flames leapt from the windows of the high-rise office building. A series of massive explosions demolished everything inside, blowing out glass panels sending them careering to the street below. Everything flammable ignited immediately and fire took hold rapidly, totally gutting the Oasis.
Josh stood amongst the crowd watching the blazing inferno, sighing somewhat contently. Having helped set the charges he could not help feel partly responsible for what had happened and in his mind he had a pretty good idea of how it all would have gone down. Pictured it vividly in his head and saw how the first to arrive storming the reception area would have set the wheels in motion.
The first of them would have tripped the timer, they could have not avoided it. Having gone unnoticed the clock was now ticking and by the
time the entire squad had made their way fully inside their fate was sealed. The searing heat generated by the fire would have incinerated those who survived the initial blasts. Many more would have succumbed to asphyxiation as thick toxic smoke filled the stairwell.
“As much as I want to believe it is over, something tells me it isn’t.” Siobhan spoke slowly, softly and purposefully. She stared at the devastation before them.
Josh chewed his lip. “We’ll be fine,” he lied, immediately regretting what he said.
Siobhan sort of smiled, it was nothing more than a slight twitch of the corner of her mouth. She was so lost in thought she never heard a word he said. Leaning forward she kissed him on the cheek. “Come on, let’s go.”
Together they headed off to catch up with the rest of the group. Behind them the building burned, plumes of smoke billowed out from all four sides.
Leaving the 4Horsemen in their wake the meandering mob passed through the empty streets. With the relative safety of the Oasis now gone thoughts quickly turned to survival. For many it had been some time since they had felt the real fear of the damage that lurked in the shadows. Somewhat bewildered, confused and driven by fear they made their way deeper into the city.
The woman frowned, took a moment to get her bearings. They had rambled off course slightly having to avoid the undead in their hasty escape. As her thin bony finger pinpointed their location on her map she reset a route to get them back on track, then shared this with Vincent. Without breaking stride he nodded and the group abruptly changed course.
Time passed.
Vincent decided to pause momentarily to give everyone a break. This came as welcomed relief for all of them as the steady pace had taken a toll and many were feeling exhausted out of breath and still in a state of shock. Taking refuge in the ground floor of a multi-story carpark building people everywhere sat, fell and collapsed to the ground. There was a collective sigh of relief.
Dark of Dawn 4Horsemen: Book one in the Dark of Dawn Series Page 30
