Defending What's Ours: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller (The EMP Bug Out Series Book 2)

by Nick Randall

  “It’s okay, sweet Kate. I’m back now, and I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.” I rubbed her back and brushed my fingers through her smooth ebony hair.

  “Where’s Gordon?” I asked.

  “I asked him to go lay some bear traps around the cabin. I’m sure Steve isn’t far off. Gordon’ll be fine. He will come back through the tunnel. He should be done by the time we finish dinner. Matthew is down there waiting for the signal to let him back in.”

  We were in the living room as the sun began to set . . . Norm had dinner on the table in record time.

  We all sat around the table like a makeshift family, except for Gordon and Matthew. We all had taken quick showers.

  Norm had planned around every eventuality. We could run most things on a backup generator.

  He had replacement parts stored and labeled in the basement, and we had built the solar panels as another backup, battery powered and ready to implement once the fuel ran out. The cabin was a fortress and a life sustainer. Steve wouldn’t give it up easily.

  Our family dinner didn’t have the normal dinnertime feel to it. The metal shutters were bolted behind the windows.

  Our guns were racked in various spots by the entrance, windows, and near the basement door.

  We knew the time was coming to fight, but the false normalcy was comforting for now.

  I finished early and joined Matthew with his dinner at the tunnel entrance, extricating myself from Kate and leaving her in Norm’s capable hands.

  Matthew sat on a chair near the entrance. His curls askew and his olive skin paler in the artificial lamp light.

  “Sooo. . . Besides the end of the world and impending doom reigning down soon, how are you feeling?” I handed him his plate, unfolded a camping chair and placed it next to him.

  A sigh escaped me as I breathed in the momentary peace.

  “Seems like you are holding up well. I’m glad your safe, Holly. That’s the most important thing. Why weren’t you at the cabin? Why were you out in the woods?” He tilted his head quizzically.

  I bit my lip. “I came for you. I know you didn’t want me to, but I don’t know if I could have lived with myself if something happened. Remember that night we first set out for the cabin, before they found us?” I asked.

  Matthew nodded, his eyes curious.

  “Even after losing Liza, being with you was special. It’s the first time I had dared to hope. I had his feeling that everything would be okay. We would make it to the cabin, and a new life would begin. I know it was an an overly hopeful daydream. I still have to keep my promise to myself, though. I have to tell you that I love you, Matthew.”

  I took a breath.

  My face was turned towards him, but my eyes searched the ground, the walls, my hands. I looked everywhere but into his eyes.

  I finally settled on letting my hair cloak my face as I stared at my fidgeting hands.

  “Matthew, we’ve danced this dance, one around the other, back and forth. Both of us get so close to saying what we feel and then drop back. I feel like time is not on our side now, though. I have to put it all out there and just let go. We don’t know if we will survive tomorrow much less the next hour. I love you, and that’s why I came looking for you. I had to tell you before I ran out of chances.”

  My hands stopped trembling, and I swept my hair back in a quick motion, swallowing hard as my eyes met his and tried to read his thoughts.

  “You’re right. We’ve danced around this for years . . . I thought I would have more time to figure out how you really felt, more time to flesh out the details and plan. It’s true, though, Holly. I’ve known it for a long time. I’m in love with you, and there isn’t enough time now to really tell you or show you the way I really want to. All I can say is that I love you, and I will continue to try to protect you, no matter what happens.”

  Matthew’s eyes glistened with tears. His voice was soft and thick, comforting me, as he pulled me closer to him. I lay my head on his shoulder. He gently kissed my forehead. My lips turned to meet his, and for a moment, we were locked in time, a cocoon of warmth and sweet release.

  Knock. Knock. Knock. Three knocks interrupted us. Three knocks and then a slow scratching sound. Norm and Gordon’s signal.

  I climbed up the ladder, slowly forcing the wheel to turn until I heard the click of the lock opening. I lifted the cover, pushing it up and back on the side hinges. It stood open, and Gordon smiled down at me.

  “I set some traps. They shouldn’t be getting to us anytime . . .” His voice broke off with a sudden gasp.

  I couldn’t see past Gordon’s thick frame, but I knew something was wrong. His breath had turned wheezy. A low whistle in his chest breathed out long and loud, and he collapsed headfirst into the opening.

  “Matthew!!! Hurry!” I screamed. “Gordon’s hurt! I can’t close the hatch, he’s stuck in the hole. I’m pulling him down so I can lock it!”

  Matthew rushed over, still weak. He stood below me, as I quickly pulled Gordon into the tunnel.

  His breathing was ragged and broken. Matthew lowered him down to the floor the best he could. I reached up to try to secure the hatch, ducking my head and stretching my hand out, hoping they weren’t close.

  A shadow covered the entrance, and a hand shot out, grabbing my wrist, twisting hard, and pulling me upwards. I cried out just in time for Matthew to grab my ankle and yank me back.

  I landed on top of Matthew. We both lay sprawled across the concrete. I sprang up, grabbing my pistol and aiming it at the hatch.

  I heard Steve’s gruff voice from just outside the entrance.

  “It won’t be long now, Holly,” he warned. “We are coming to get you, and we will have the cabin.”

  I shot at the hole, my bullet hitting nothing but night sky.

  “Tsk. Tsk. Holly, you should know better than to waste your bullets. I’m not leaving the entrance, and you can’t stay there all night. It’s time to make a decision.”

  I looked over at Matthew. He pointed in the direction of the cellar door. We both grabbed Gordon.

  I had one hand underneath his arm and one hand still holding my gun steady towards the hatch.

  Matthew and I pulled Gordon through the door to the cellar, yelling upstairs for Norm.

  “Norm, we need you! The tunnel entrance is open. They’ll be coming down into the tunnel soon!”

  Running footsteps sounded from above. Norm catapulted down the stairs, Kate in one arm and the young girl close behind him.

  Gordon was lying in the corner, his back facing us, too still and quiet. A knife wound on his back, bloody and raw.

  Norm rushed forward putting Kate down on the cellar floor and trying to secure the cellar door.

  He and Matthew grabbed the handles and pulled, but it was too late. Steve and his men started shooting at the door.

  Matthew and Norm jumped back against the wall, taking cover. Norm went to draw his gun from his belt, but realized too late, it wasn’t there.

  From the other side of the room, near the door to the basement, a bullet rang out.

  Wait. That’s the wrong side. Who’s firing on our side? I looked over to see the little girl, the sister, with a gun in her hand. She lowered it, and aimed it at my chest.

  “It’s okay, Steve. I’ve got her. Everyone drop your guns, or I will shoot Holly.”

  She looked at me with hatred and anger in her eyes.

  Steve and his men emerged. Each one training their guns on one of us. Steve strode forward.

  “Good job, Wendy. Now, it’s time to make your choice. Do you want to kill her? This is a crossroads for you. This decision will define your life.”

  He stepped away from Wendy and gestured towards me with his hand.

  “You said you would take me instead,” Matthew yelled, desperately.

  “No, Matthew,” Wendy trained her eyes on me, not turning away as she spoke. “You ran away. You didn’t keep your end of the deal. She is the reason my sister Sarah is dead. She is the
only reason. She could have stepped out to save Liza and my sister. She chose to save herself. Steve and I tricked you. You led us right to them.”

  I was crouched in the corner with Gordon to my left and Kate hiding behind me, her whole body shaking uncontrollably, soft whimpers escaping her. Gordon’s breaths were shallow and ragged, but he had woken up with all the commotion and pushed himself to sitting against the wall.

  “Wendy, Wendy is that you?” his feeble voice ricocheted around the cellar.

  Wendy looked over at Gordon. Her eyes met his with recognition.

  “Grandpa? Grandpa! They killed Sarah. Holly could have come out when he warned her. She could have saved her,” she cried as tears sprang up in her eyes.

  Her eyes focused harder on Gordon, and I saw the truth wash over her as soon as her eyes traveled to the blood trickling from his mouth.

  “You’re hurt. Did they hurt you?” She stared hard at me.

  “No, sweetheart. Holly didn’t hurt me. I’ve known her since she was a little girl like you. Wendy, she would never hurt anyone on purpose. Your mixed up, sweetie. That man,” he raised his arm and pointed at Steve.

  “That man, he’s the one who hurt me, Wendy. Sometimes, things happen on accident, like with Holly and Sarah, and sometimes, things happen on purpose. He hurt me on purpose. Is that who you really want to trust?” His strength was failing, and his body shivered. He collapsed into unconsciousness.

  Wendy’s hand wavered. I saw her look at Steve, confused. Matthew stood on the opposite wall, the man nearest him was caught up in the conversation, distracted. Norm sat on the ground, his knees pulled tight against his chest. He looked feeble and scared, but I knew he was pulling his gun from his ankle holster. He eyed the two men nearest him. They would underestimate him. They were young, cocky, full of pride. I turned back to look at Wendy just as I saw the flash of a muzzle and heard the blast of the gun going off.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 (Matthew)

  Chapter 2 (Holly)

  Chapter 3 (Matthew)

  Chapter 4 (Holly)

  Chapter 5 (Matthew)

  Chapter 6 (Holly)