The Harvest (Book 1)

by Ferretti, Anne

  Standing there, staring at the general’s achievements Madison pondered the man’s state of mind before dying. What made him go mad? Eve came to mind. Was she somehow responsible for Roth’s jump off the sanity cliff into the abyss of lurid thought?

  A sudden chill in the air sent a shiver down her spine and goose bumps up her arms. She crossed her arms in front of her and walked over to where a map of the U.S. was hanging inside a metal frame. Someone had stuck small red dots all over the map, with the heaviest concentration being in the Midwest and the South. Around clusters of the red dots, red circles were drawn with each having its own number. All together there were thirteen large circles containing a countless number of dots.

  At first glance the position of the dots didn’t make sense, giving the appearance of being desultory. They weren’t placed on major or even medium size cities which was why her initial assumption was that reason was not behind their placement. But the more Madison stared at them, the less haphazard the pattern became. The one thing the dot’s location had in common was all were located off the beaten path in remote unpopulated areas of the country.

  Not knowing why or how this map with its red dots and circles might be important, Madison decided to take it down. She reached up and removed the frame from the wall, setting it face down on top of Roth’s desk. She quickly unfastened the six screws holding the frame together and slipped the map out of the frame. Once removed, she rolled the map up securing it with a rubber band she’d found in one of the desk drawers.

  Another chill, this one stronger than the last, brushed over her. She turned around map in hand to find Chase standing in the doorway pointing a double barrel shotgun at her. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of him, but narrowed to angry slits upon seeing the intent in his beady eyes.

  “Where’s your captain sweetheart?”

  “He went to bed.” Madison breathed easier knowing Chase couldn’t see Austin in the chair, but if he came any further into the room Austin would be a sitting duck. Madison moved towards Chase, cutting him off. “What do you want?”

  “What do I want?” He repeated slowly, drawing out each word. What a cunt this one was, he thought to himself, while allowing his eyes to wander up and down her trim figure.

  She bristled at his forwardness; an expression of disgust darkened her face. It was a look he’d grown accustomed to receiving. Even the whores he used to pick up were disgusted by him. That was of course before coming to the realization of what a despicable degenerate murderer he really was. Then they changed their tune. Begged for mercy. Begged for forgiveness. Showered him with compliments. All for naught. Those were his favorite killings.

  “I want you to shut your whore mouth that’s what I want.” He sneered at her. “I want you to slowly walk out that door. We’re going to a special place where I’m going to teach you how to behave like a lady, not a whore cunt.”

  The hairs on her neck rose at being called a cunt by this sick sniveling excuse for a man. She envisioned ramming her fist into Chase’s nose, feeling his bones break underneath her knuckles, hearing his screams of agony. Just once she wanted to have the chance to inflict suffering upon Chase, long lasting suffering. Movement behind Chase interrupted Madison’s visions of revenge. She wasn’t sure what she saw, but knew someone was outside Roth’s office. Maybe Luke had decided to check on her.

  But it wasn’t Luke. Eve appeared, seeming to materialize into a whole being from the particles that made up the dark. She stopped just on the other side of the threshold only a few feet behind Chase. Madison kept her eyes on Chase, but her peripheral on Eve. What if she killed him? Not that Madison cared, but she knew Austin wanted him alive. She moved a cautious step forward.

  “Chase, if you don’t put down that shotgun you’re gonna be one sorry, and very dead, man.” Austin said from his chair, startling Chase

  Chase glared at Madison. “You lying whore.”

  Madison sneered. “Did you think you were the only one allowed?”

  Chase’s anger boiled high. How dare she take on that tone? He was going to get his hands on the whore, but first he had to deal with Reynolds, who was a sly character, maybe even slyer sometimes than he himself could be.

  “You might want to look over your shoulder.” Austin leaned around his chair and nodded at the doorway.

  Chase was about to ask if the captain took him for a fool when he caught Eve’s reflection in the glass of one Roth’s framed awards. His initial reaction was fear, but then something of rage took over and he whipped around firing both barrels into Eve’s midsection. Austin jumped up from his chair, knocking Chase out with one punch to the side of his head.

  Austin ran over to Eve who lay in the hallway with a gaping hole in her midsection. Using extreme care, he untied her robe to examine the damage. As he watched in amazement, Eve’s organs and damaged flesh began repairing at a rapid pace. Within less than a minute she was whole again. Regenerative cells just like the Sundogs, but absent any fiber optic type wires.

  “Amazing.” Madison said with awe. “Maybe that’s what Roth was after.”

  “Are you ok?” Austin asked Eve.

  She nodded. By now all signs of damage had vanished. Austin stood up and offered her his hand. She refused him, getting up without his assistance.

  “I’ll get her something to wear.” Madison said, surprised when Eve nodded her head.

  “Go with Madison. I have to secure Chase.” He instructed Eve, who nodded she understood.

  Madison grabbed the map off the floor where she’d dropped it after Chase fired the gun. The damn fool, she cursed him. The ringing in her ears would persist for days.

  “I’ll come by your room and get her in a few minutes.” Austin told Madison.

  “We’ll be there.” Madison smiled at him, refraining from adding any comment about them having girl time together. She guessed Eve never spent a second of her life doing girl things let alone having girl time.

  37 FINDING FAITH

  The suns faded into view as the barn door slid open. Ed and the Colin stepped outside. Within a few seconds Zack rolled up in the Monster and jumped out.

  Zack put his hand on Colin’s shoulder. “You know what to do right?”

  “Yeah man. But I still don’t think you should go.” Colin argued despite knowing his argument was falling on deaf ears.

  “I agree.” Edward chimed in. “They’ll be back today. I know they will.” The last part was to convince himself more than Zack. Austin’s plan had been an in and out get back fast, but things could go wrong. Things could go very wrong. Even with this thought in mind, he still sided with the younger Londergan. Zack risking the trip alone was not a sound decision.

  But Zack knew the risks of not going, which was why he had to go. If Austin planned to take on the Sundogs he needed to know what Zack had discovered, their weak spot so to speak, as little as it might be worth it was more than the captain had now. “I have to go. Austin won’t stand a chance if I don’t.”

  “They’ll be back. You could wait a few hours at least.” Colin countered.

  “You’re right. They’ll be back, but Austin won’t be with them. He’s going to find his wife and kid. Alive or dead, one way or the other.” Let it be alive, Zack hoped. “Chase, the prisoner, was telling the truth about the space portals. I know you think it’s all bullshit.” He addressed Ed’s raised eyebrow. “But I know when someone is lying and Chase wasn’t.”

  “It’s true Ed. He’s always bustin’ me for lyin’. Like he’s got some internal lie detector machine in his head.”

  Ed pursed his lips for a moment, not ready to give Zack his blessing. “So what if he was telling the truth? How does that figure into you goin off on this suicide mission?”

  “I’ve never seen a man so obsessed as the captain is in finding his wife and kid. You know what I’m sayin? It’s like he believes without a doubt they’re still alive, where the rest of us gave up hope long ago.”

  Edward grimaced. Hearing this stat
ement, made so matter of fact, stabbed him in the heart a thousand times over. Hope was the one thing he’d thought he had going in his favor. Now, having it pointed out to him in such a casual manner, it occurred to him that maybe he’d tossed hope aside long ago. Maybe his mind had fooled his heart into thinking hope was possible as a defense against the pain. He lowered his head, whispering. “I still hope.”

  “I know you do Ed. And shit! Who knows? Maybe superman will find his wife, your wife, our mom. Who fucking knows? But if I don’t go help him, he’s gonna die like everyone else.” Zack climbed up into the truck ending the debate.

  “What’d we do if you don’t come back?” Colin voiced his biggest fear.

  “Have faith little bro.” He gave the Hawaiian peace sign and stepped on the gas pedal. The Monster’s tires spun, caught traction that propelled the mammoth vehicle out across the icy field.

  Colin and Ed watched Zack go with the same sense of dread felt when Madison and Luke rode out ahead of Austin. Ed gave Colin a comforting pat on the back knowing the boy was deeply concerned for his brother’s safety and for his own future.

  Ed walked over to the barn door and pulled it closed, locking it tight. “Let’s go inside. I’m hungry. How about you?”

  Colin nodded, afraid if he spoke out loud the tears would come. He didn’t want Ed to see him cry and more so he’d be damned if Charlie was going to see him cry. She’d think he was a woose or worse yet a total dork. Stiffening his shoulders he looked Ed in the eye. “I’m ready.”

  Ed nodded in understanding. In some form or fashion Zack had been looking out for Colin all his life. Faced with his current circumstance, growing up was no longer an option for Colin and Ed couldn’t help feeling sympathy for him.

  The world as they remembered it was never going to return. And after long discussions with Zack about the future, he and Ed had deduced their uninvited guests would depart once their food source ran out. Considering their baneful nature, they would not be leaving the planet they way they found it.

  If Zack’s calculations were to be relied on, and Ed was confident he was close to being spot on, the planet would flood within days after the climate returning to normal. If, and more likely when, this were to take place, Zack had a place for them to go and an evacuation route to get there. The variable, and therefore the glitch in his calculations, was the timing. Ed wouldn’t say it out loud, but he almost preferred if Earth stayed frozen.

  ***

  Inside the bunker they found Charlie waiting in the diner. She and Colin headed for the kitchen to make breakfast, while Ed sat out in the dining area with his cup of coffee. Watching the vapors rise from his mug reminded him of the last day he saw his family. He closed his eyes picturing Jenni walking out with the tray of hot chocolate and Ryan’s eyes lighting up.

  Ed’s eyes snapped open. He slammed his cup down on the counter spilling coffee over the sides. Grabbing napkins to wipe up the mess, he stopped mid way and stared at the counter. He checked the date on his watch. October fifteenth. He’d been living this nightmare for over a year now, yet the memory was so fresh he could still smell the leaves and hear his son’s laughter.

  Austin was so set in his convictions. Why didn’t Ed have the same drive in finding Jenni and Ryan? What kind of man was he to falter so easily? These questions haunted him, but not more than the answers. If he found Jenni, he would have to face her knowing he’d given up. And she would forgive him, but he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself. Shame and guilt, allowed to fester, were like soul eating piranhas nibbling away at what life he had left in him.

  Laughter from the kitchen drew Ed from the abyss he saw himself sinking into. He finished wiping up his mess, focusing his energy and mind on the positives. Jenni had always admired his ability to find the silver lining in any given situation. It was a gift she’d told him. A gift, and perhaps in his current environment, the only chance he had for remaining sane.

  Charlie and Colin exited the kitchen carrying trays of food. The mouth watering scent of pancakes and bacon filled the air. Ed greeted them and the food with a smile on his face. The kids would never have to know his pain. They were fighting their own demons and he needed to be a pillar of strength, not a measly man, not a cupcake.

  “Do you want some more coffee?” Charlie asked Ed after she set his plate down.

  “That would be great.” He passed over his mug. Charlie reached out to take it and Ed couldn’t help noticing the track marks between her fingers.

  Charlie’s smile faded when she saw where Ed’s eyes had come to rest. Embarrassed, she grabbed his mug and turned around. Colin never noticed or paid attention to her marks and Charlie never volunteered to explain where they came from. But Ed was different; he was older and probably knew more about such things. He might suspect she’d been given drugs by her father, or worse, he might think she used on her own accord.

  The coffee pot shook under her hand as she refilled Ed’s mug. Her teenage mind didn’t give much thought to why she worried over Ed’s opinion of her, but if she thought it over she’d realize he reminded her of Aaron. A reminder she didn’t want to surface, because, despite having lived one nightmare after another, Charlie’s biggest demon was witnessing Aaron’s death.

  All else thrust upon her was endurable, maybe one day even forgettable, except for losing Aaron. The finality of him being gone from her life, the crushing weight on her heart, was more than she could bear. Thus Aaron’s memory was neatly locked away in the recesses of her mind, safely stored for that some day when she might have the strength to endure and remember him.

  Putting on a smile Charlie turned and handed Ed his mug. This time he didn’t look at her hands, rather he looked her straight on and smiled. It was a ‘don’t worry about it’ smile and Charlie decided she wouldn’t worry. Ed would never judge. He was one of the good guys. He had faith in people, the good in them.

  Faith ceased to exist for Charlie. Life under the mountain had wiped out what was innocent and pure, replacing it with what was evil and tainted. Inflictions guided by the hand of someone trusted and loved. Until the day Zack pulled her inside the barn, she’d believed only the wicked had survived the purge.

  “Do you wanna watch a movie or something after breakfast?” Colin asked.

  Charlie’s eyes lit up. “Awesome. But you pick this time.”

  “Ed what do you think?”

  “I’ll pass.” Ed answered knowing Colin was only being polite. In their minds thirty seven was ancient. “I have a book I want to read.” He added when Charlie insisted.

  After they finished breakfast, Ed hurried them along saying he would take care of the dishes. True to a teenager’s ways, they didn’t hesitate in taking off. Alone again, Ed sat at the counter sipping his coffee in no big hurry to clean up.

  The state of his faith or lack thereof didn’t set well with him. The more he dwelled on his loss of conviction the deeper his resolution to rebuild it became. Setting his cup down, Ed bowed his head as if in prayer. He made a promise to himself to not give up on finding his family, to not give up on humanity, no matter what horrors they committed.

  38 THE PORTAL

  At six am the girls were waiting when Austin arrived with Chase and Eve a few moments later. Madison had given Eve normal clothing to wear and, surprising everyone, from a distance she looked close to human. Jeremy and Luke were the last to join the group.

  At the elevator Austin went through the plan one more time, making Madison repeat it first and then Jeremy. Satisfied they knew what to do, Austin pressed the elevator button. They rode the elevator up in two shifts. Madison rode up with the first group and Austin with the second. Not a word was said about leaving Section Seven behind for good, but Austin knew the girls were relieved.

  He could say with certainty Chase was the only one in their group sad to leave the mountain. Austin didn’t give a damn about the sniveler or the fact he sported a new bruise on his cheek. He was lucky to get away with his life after the stunt he pulled t
he night before.

  Exiting the mountain ahead of the group, Austin and Luke checked the perimeter before calling for the others to come out. Although the three suns weren’t the same intensity as the Earth’s real sun, the girls thought they looked brilliant all the same and stared at them in wonder. So overwhelmed by the smell of fresh air, they didn’t mind the cold or biting wind as they filled their lungs over and over again.

  Austin didn’t rush them, allowing them to take it all in. It was a moment in their lives they would remember forever, the day they were freed. Freedom, he would argue, was the only feeling that might be as, and maybe at times more powerful than love.

  Jeremy and Luke drove two large military land rovers around to the front of the mountain. Madison and Jeremy were going to take the girls in one and head back to the bunker. The second would be there waiting for Austin and Luke upon their return from Bliss.

  The girls had very little in possessions so loading the vehicle took less than fifteen minutes and before Madison was ready it was time for them to leave. Jeremy climbed in behind the wheel while Madison looked around for Luke.

  “I’ll be right back.” She told Jeremy and headed towards Luke.

  She’d thought about it all night what she wanted to say to Luke, to Austin. The latter being the more difficult and somewhat sticky. She wanted to speak from her heart in case she never saw him again, but she didn’t want it to be awkward if he returned with his wife. And, in complete honesty, she hoped he would find Roxanne and his son alive.

  “Hey kid.” She playfully punched Luke in the arm.

  “Hey Maddie.” He replied hesitantly.

  “Don’t worry. I’m not going to try talking you out of going.”

  He looked down, embarrassed at being so easy to read.

  “I just wanted to tell you,” she swallowed, “to tell you that, you know, to be careful.” This was harder than she thought.

  “I will Maddie. I promise.” He gave her a crooked smile.

  They stood silent for a few minutes. “Would you be embarrassed if I hugged you?” Madison finally asked.