by Jeff Olah
Turning to move back to the crowd, Randy underestimated the speed at which the approaching crowd moved. They were on him before he had a chance to react and in stepping back, he stumbled over the bag, sending him staggering to the grass. Scrambling backward he dropped one of the handguns and fired on the first few that attacked. He was able to eliminate the first four and Mason, after retrieving the shotgun took down three more.
It wasn’t enough and the as the horde piled, in neither man heard the engine racing. Megan drove the SUV directly into the crowd giving Mason a bit of breathing room, although placing Randy on the opposite side. As Megan put the SUV in reverse and backed away, Randy was caught by a sizeable Feeder to his rear. He kicked straight up, making contact with the Feeders knee, driving it down with a broken leg. Unfortunately, in the process, he was bitten on the shoulder as the Feeder fell to the ground.
Pulling forward, he fought free of his capture, also losing his shirt and coat in the process. Bare chested and adrenaline scorching through every fiber, he tossed his weapon to the grass below and marched to his attacker. The ravenous Feeder clawed at the air as it fought to right itself, screeching like a wounded animal, although with a slight twinge of defiance.
Randy looked back at a surprised Mason before launching a gargantuan roundhouse, followed by a boot to the chin, completely separating the Feeder’s upper and lower jaw and sending it onto its back. He stood over the flailing creature with one foot pinning its right arm to the earth below and the other he used as a battering ram to pound its head into a mound of annihilated flesh.
The anger in his face was evident as he turned to the others. His pulse still climbing, Randy turned and without saying a word, recovered all three weapons. He glanced at his shoulder, confirming the Feeder hadn’t been successful at making contact with his skin, and tossed Mason the shotgun, peering over his shoulder.
With Megan also now out of the SUV, Randy retrieved his clothes and the bag with the remaining weapons. He moved to the rear passenger door, set the bag among the others and waved Mason over. “Let’s go.”
Megan rushed over, continually checking her surroundings, which at the moment appeared to be free of Feeders, save for a few stragglers oblivious to the new direction the horde had started to follow. “Wait, what just happened?”
Mason had also seen the change. The two groups of Feeders had merged into one and changed course, heading back down the path that Mason and the others used to arrive at Silo Nine. Megan wasn’t initially able to make out the reason why the horde had moved away, although after moving to a better vantage, it became clear.
The security guard, who’d given her life to protect Dr. Eugene Lockwood, hadn’t yet turned. Her pace had slowed considerably, although there appeared to be enough human life still present that both hordes turned their vengeance on the woman now leading them down the opposite side of the mountain. For the second time in less than ten minutes, Lucinda had saved the group.
Mason jumped back in behind the wheel. “Where did she come from, how did that happen?”
“I’d seen that security guard woman coming,” Randy said, sliding his boots back and forth along the grass before also jumping in. “And as Megan drove through and the mob parted, the majority went after her.”
“Can we go already?” Lockwood said from the backseat. “The longer we wait, the bigger target we become.”
. . .
They hadn’t seen another soul since leaving the mountain and other than a few random sub-humans, the drive back to the main highway had been uneventful. After being on the open road for the last fifteen minutes, the silence was getting the best of him. He was going to ask the question, even if the answer was something less than complimentary. Glancing at the rearview mirror, Mason said, “Randy I want you to know that I don’t fault you for it, although what you said…”
“Let me save you the trouble. I needed to get you to go; I needed you to understand how important this man is. You wouldn’t leave and I said some things I shouldn’t have, figuring it would piss you off enough to leave me behind, but you didn’t.”
“Randy, there is no way I’d have left. You know that.”
“Yeah… I should have. You’re way too stubborn, maybe for your own good. You have to know…”
Megan sat forward with her hands on the dash. “Guys… do you see that?”
Slowing the SUV, Mason slammed his fist into the dash. “YOU’VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME!” He did see it and so did the others. Just short of the next exit from the highway sat a black four wheel drive pickup truck. Two men, standing on either side of the road waved Mason over to the opposite shoulder.
Beyond the mystery men and just short of the overpass, there appeared to be hundreds of Feeders behind locked gates, a few moving out onto the highway. Lockwood pointed toward the side of the road opposite the Feeders. “It looks like they want us to pull over.”
Rolling to a stop twenty feet from the pickup, Mason turned to Randy. “Whadda ya think?”
Handing Mason one of the nine millimeters he said. “Not too sure, I think you and I should get out before they get over here.”
As the men approached, Mason slid the pistol into his pants and stepped out onto the dirt shoulder, leaving the engine running. “Hello gentlemen… looks like the highway took a bad turn here, huh?”
The smaller of the two spoke first. “Where y’all from, where ya headed?”
Randy stepped forward. “We’re just headed down the highway, looking for my cousin and her family. You guys alright with us passin’ through?”
“There’s no way you’re getting around this mess today. You’re gonna have to find another way around. I’m sorry fellas; it’s just not gonna happen.”
147
Switching from one program to the next as he rose from the chair, Sean automated as much of the process as he could before turning to Eleanor. Swapping the interior video feeds from Building Six with shots of the main building, Sean was satisfied there was no way she’d accidentally stumble upon the horrific scene he was about to charge into. Having already toured the entire facility, he knew where he was headed and made sure to have the building open before going through his plan with her.
“Eleanor, I need to go.” It felt odd, if not a tad inappropriate, giving her instructions. “Lock the door when I go and please don’t leave this room.”
She moved in and sat at the chair, although she wasn’t quite present. “What?”
“It’s really simple, just click here to lock the door and when I get back click again to unlock. I’m sorry, I have to go.” She didn’t acknowledge his instructions and didn’t look up as he left the room, although as he passed through the hall and reached the exit, Sean heard the lock engage.
The midafternoon sun beat down on the courtyard as he sprinted across the open field. Using a shortcut, he moved between Buildings Four and Five, arriving out of breath at the entrance door to Six. Pausing as he grasped the handle he said to himself, “What am I doing? This isn’t me, I’m not a hero.”
. . .
The left side of her head still pulsing and blood running into her ear, she stood only eighteen inches from her assailant. The man who was responsible for the death of more friends than she cared to think about sat clutching a lock of her hair. By the way he was panting; he didn’t seem to have much fight left in him.
Stepping to the left, Savannah quickly reached for the tablet as Goodwin pressed it into the floor with his right hand. Again he laughed at her as she wound back and slapped him so hard across the face that a welt began to rise, even as she came back for another strike. Still mocking her, although now at the end of his patience, he stopped her second strike by grabbing her wrist. Pulling her in close he said, “Last chance little lady, run back to your little…”
Using the forward momentum Goodwin created as he forced her to him, Savannah followed through with her right knee making contact with the left side of his face as he turned away. She felt his head snap backward and again make conta
ct with the handrail as she used what little bodyweight she possessed to emphasize the blow.
Moving back again she wiped the lone trail of blood from her face as Goodwin’s laugh continued, although now with a slight air of viciousness to it. Her heart rate again began to climb as she took a step back and turned to see Sean at the far end of the hall walking quickly toward her. “Savannah, come on. Let’s go, you shouldn’t be here.” He grabbed her by the hand while trying not to focus on the others in the area, each for different reasons.
Savannah pulled free. “We can’t leave William.”
He was through arguing and the man that shot William began to right himself. Even for his age Sean was bigger and stronger than her and he was going to make her leave, regardless of what she wanted. Sean couldn’t differentiate between anger and terror at the moment and remembered what his father said about fear.
Fear has nothing to do with the problem being faced, although it always has an effect on the outcome. Let fear have its proper place only after you’ve completed your obligation.
Reaching out for her hand once again, Sean was a second too late as she stepped toward Goodwin.
She came in fast with a barrage of kicks and punches that sent the man onto his side at the edge of the top step. Acknowledging the short window of opportunity, she offered one final strike as he reached out for a handhold, sending Goodwin head over heels back down the staircase, momentarily silencing his pompous tirade.
Stepping around William’s lifeless body and kicking the destroyed tablet aside, Sean reached in, slammed the door to the stairwell and pulled Savannah away. They ran through the lobby and out the main entrance, only stopping once for Sean to secure the door. Through the courtyard, Sean led the way to Building One.
He waited at the door for Savannah to enter and directed her back to the Command Center where Eleanor sat staring blankly into the row of monitors. Sean knocked on the glass, startling Eleanor and pointed to the door. She looked back at the first screen and made sure to do as Sean had asked. The door clicked to life and Sean pushed through with Savannah in tow.
As the pair came through the door, Eleanor stood and ran to Savannah. They embraced one another and both began to cry. Through their sobs, Sean could only make out that they were consoling one another over William and not much else. He avoided eye contact with them and moved back in behind the main workstation, once again bringing to life the video feeds.
He paused the other workstations and before turning his attention elsewhere, locked down the building he and the others now called home. Sean ran through each camera on the interior and then the exterior, ensuring that the three of them were the only inhabitants of Building One.
Having only the surface details of what actually took place at the facility a few days earlier, he turned his attention to the grisly scene he’d just departed. Not having any information on the man who’d entered Building Six through some sort of back door, Sean erred on the side of caution and locked Marcus Goodwin on the lower level. He’d have to exit the way he came in if he had any hope of leaving this facility.
Eleanor now stood behind him, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. “Sean, what am I looking at? Is that monster gone, is he finally dead?”
Addressing both Eleanor and Savannah, who decided the images weren’t something she cared to relive and sat at the rear of the room, he said “That man… Goodwin, is still moving. He’s hurt pretty bad, although he’s still alive. I’ve locked him in the basement and he’s not going anywhere.”
Not fond of Sean’s assessment, Savannah turned to Eleanor for help. “I need a gun. Where are they?”
“Savannah,” Sean said. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea. We don’t know his condition and you need that gash on your head taken care of.”
“Then you do it. Even though we haven’t told you all the details, trust me - the man deserves to die.”
Shaking his head, Sean was resolute in his position. “I’m not going anywhere near that building and neither are you. I say we wait for the others to return and let them decide.”
Eleanor agreed with Sean, although Savannah wasn’t convinced. “Really? You two think we should just let him stay put until Mason and Randy get back. What happens if he walks right out the way he came in?”
Sean let her statement sit for a moment, not wanting to have to explain his plan. “Let’s just say for the time being… I’ve made sure he’s not going anywhere.”
148
Under any other circumstances, he’d have just turned around and found another way back, although from where Mason stood, he and Randy had the upper hand. They were determined to continue down the highway with or without the permission of the two men standing in their way. Neither held a weapon, although from the number of downed Feeders in the area, he assumed at one point they did. Reaching for the nine millimeter resting along his lower back Mason said, “Are you asking us to go around or are you telling us?”
Both men took a step back at the sight of the weapon and the older of the two responded. “Listen, we don’t have an issue with you passing through. We’re just running low on a few things and don’t know how much longer we can keep going out here. It’s been torture and we’ve been on the run since the first day.”
“Maybe we can help each other out,” Mason said. “We are in a bit of rush and need to get moving. We have some supplies we may be willing to part with or...”
“Or what?” Randy asked. Glancing at the two men and then back at Mason he continued, “What are you offering up? We don’t owe these guys anything and for the record they threatened us, remember?”
“Listen guys,” the older of the two men cut a look of disapproval at the other and said, “He’s a little overzealous and it’s been some time since we’ve eaten. We’re just hungry and tired, I’m sorry that we got off on the wrong foot; we’re not going to stand in your way.” Pointing back at their truck, he scolded the younger man, tossing him the keys. “Garrett, go move the truck so they can pass… right now.”
Mason stepped to the older man and shook his hand, “I’m Mason and my friend here is Randy. We’ve seen a bit of trouble over the last few weeks as well. I appreciate it; not many people out here are willing to help lately.”
“I understand, it hasn’t been easy for us either. We were trapped in the city for a few days and he was on duty at the time. Garrett here…” slapping his forehead as he said, “Where are my manners? My name is Abraham and my son moving the truck who you’ve already met is Garrett. He was a police officer and still holds tight to a few of his former instincts. We’ve ran into some bad people and he’s not very trusting”
Shaking his head, Randy turned and walked to the rear of the SUV, popped the hatch and, fumbling through the bags and boxes, came away with a backpack overflowing with food he’d packed for the trip. As he returned, he looked to Mason and after an approving nod, laid the backpack on the asphalt along the center strip of the highway. “This should keep you and your son going for at least a few days, maybe a week. I only have one requirement.”
“Yes?” Abraham said.
“Do not open the pack until we are gone,” Randy said. “I’m not as trusting as my friend here. If I see you open the pack before we are out of sight, we will come back and I will shoot you both… deal?”
Garrett had returned from moving the truck and now stood with his father. Both men in unison responded, “Deal!”
. . .
She wasn’t satisfied. She’d only known this boy for a few days and didn’t like the plan he laid out. She wanted Goodwin dead and didn’t want to wait for the others to get back before it was done. There had to be a gun that the men left behind and if there was ever a situation that called for its use, this was it. Savannah stood at the door and tried to come up with a believable reason she’d need to leave the room. Patting the wound on her head, she turned to Sean and said, “I should probably clean this thing up, can you open the door so I can get to the bathroom
.”
“Your free to go anywhere inside the building,” and turning back to the workstation he said, “Just remember all the exits are still locked.”
Savannah walked out and followed the hall to the women’s lounge as Sean continued to delve deeper into the systems that controlled Blackmore. After nearly thirty minutes of silence in the room, save for the clicking of the keyboard, Eleanor moved in and sat alongside Sean at the main desk.
“Sean,” she said, “you told Savannah not to worry, and you were sure that Goodwin wouldn’t leave the basement.”
“Yes?”
“Why, why would you tell her that? I think she needs the truth… I think we both do.”
Wanting her to understand that he was focused on what she was asking and not simply pacifying her, Sean paused and turned from the keyboard for a moment. “I’m sorry for not really explaining what I’ve done. I don’t think Savannah wants details, it sounds like what she wants is revenge.”
Any form of expression had long since left her face as Eleanor struggled to maintain her composure. “I don’t disagree with you and there is a part of me that wants the same thing she does. We’ve lost too many people and it doesn’t get any easier, it actually gets worse. I don’t think Savannah is going to give up on this.”
“You’re probably right, but I’m not really hiding anything. All I’ve done is made sure that it will be almost impossible for that man to leave the basement, even if he were to magically recover from falling down the stairs.”
“How?”
“It’s pretty simple,” Sean said. “I dropped the temperature as almost as low as it will go in that building. It’s now set to forty-five degrees. The pain he is already in, plus not being able to move his arms or legs because of the cold, is going to make it impossible for him to walk or crawl.”
Eleanor looked confused. “Won’t that end up killing him anyway?”
