He checked each cabinet, opening the doors with a gentle touch. He glanced over his shoulder at Cathy’s room for any reaction to the squeaking hinges. No response was given.
All were barren of what Russell craved. He sighed, then grumbled under his breath. His hands quaked from the lack of alcohol swimming through his veins. It wasn’t bad, yet. A single taste would cure what ailed him.
A twinge of pain from his injuries flared. Rotating his shoulder hurt some, but it was getting better. The bite from the mountain lion throbbed some, but was bearable.
It had been some time since he had taken any painkillers. That was by design. He hoped that he’d happen across a bottle of liquor and didn’t want to have any more medication in his system. He knew Cathy was right about mixing such things. Doing so would only compound any problems he faced.
Damn it.
The palms of Russell’s hands rested against the edge of the counter. His head dangled in defeat. The tips of his fingers pressed into each socket as he rubbed his eyes. Battling the addiction was hard when one had the fortitude and support of others close at hand to keep him in check. He had neither. At that moment, he regretted walking down the path he had—drinking and all.
Russell lifted his head, then glanced out of the window to the darkness beyond the glass panes. The murk seemed hollow; empty and vast. It was odd not to see any sort of light or hint of civilization.
He spotted movement in front of the house, or so he thought. He squinted, then opened his eyes. There was nothing there. It could’ve been an animal passing through or just his imagination. They were in the mountains, after all.
The porch creaked. Russell froze. He didn’t imagine that. He tilted his head to the side and listened.
The boards creaked again, then stopped. Something was out there, skulking about close to the house. If that was an animal, it was being more curious than Russell figured it should be.
Was the front door locked down? Russell couldn’t remember if Cathy had checked it before heading off to bed. This was her place, and she knew how to secure her own house. Still, the thought remained.
Russell skirted around the kitchen table. He hugged the wall in the direction of the front door, listening for any additional warnings.
Cathy hadn’t stirred, nor Max.
The flickering from the flame cast shadows along the walls, which added to the eerie ambiance. Each step Russell took made his heart pound harder. He gulped the lump in his throat and stopped shy of the entrance to the cabin.
He craned his neck and peered through the window. From his vantage point, it was difficult to make anything out. He couldn’t spot any movement, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t anyone there.
Russell leaned forward a bit more and looked out the sides of the window. Glass shattered from the kitchen, stealing his attention away from the entrance. Something dense hammered the floor and rolled over the wooden planks.
What the hell?
Max barked from the other room, and clawed at the door, fighting to get out.
A bottle came hurtling through the busted window. The tip was ablaze and glowed a fiery orange. It took a second for Russell to figure out what it was.
The Molotov cocktail shattered on the floor. A fiery glow blossomed as is spread across the wood. The crackling of flames consuming the house played in his ears. Smoke tainted the air.
Russell covered his mouth and swatted at the smoke.
Cathy and Max barreled out of her bedroom in a dead sprint. A look of shock and bewilderment filled her gaze. The fire consumed everything in its path and continued chewing through the rest of the cabin.
The front door exploded open just as Russell stepped away to combat the raging inferno. The jamb splintered and the window shattered into a million fine pieces.
Russell flinched and covered his head with his arms. He turned toward the porch, confused as to what was happening. Shards of glass crunched under his boots.
Under the cloak of night, a figure dressed in a green camo raincoat rushed headlong inside the cabin. He paused for a blink before setting his sights on Russell. He took a step back as if surprised to find Russell there.
His face was covered with a ski mask. Only his eyes and the stray hairs from his mustache and beard were visible.
Russell balled his fingers into fists and gnashed his teeth. He charged the intruder. The two men collided and pushed out onto the porch while throwing punches at one another.
The man in the raincoat was strong. His heavy hand pummeled the side of Russell’s face. Russell deflected the man’s arm and jabbed him square in the nose—a lighting fast strike that sent the man stumbling backward.
Both of his hands palmed his bleeding nose as he grumbled in pain. Russell punched him in the gut, then finished him off with an uppercut. His head snapped backward in a blink, and he crumbled to the ground.
Russell stood over the defeated man for a second, making sure he was no longer a threat.
Max barked from the interior of the cabin which was trumped by the loud, raging fire feeding on the log house. Russell peered back to the inferno that burned unchallenged. He ran toward the entrance as thick, white smoke escaped from the opening.
Max materialized from the dense cloud. He leapt from the porch and hit the ground running. Cathy stumbled out of the cabin with a rucksack fixed in her hand, and a rifle slung over her shoulder.
She dropped to her knees at the edge of the porch. The palm of her hand covered her nose and mouth. She hacked and coughed, struggling to breathe.
Fiery tendrils crawled out of the windows and over the exterior of the cabin. The heat from the blaze felt like a thousand suns against Russell’s skin. It grew more intense with each second they stood there. He squinted and shielded his face from the torrid hellfire as he grabbed Cathy’s arm.
“Come on, We need to move away from here,” Russell lifted Cathy to her feet and helped her off the porch. The man in the raincoat was gone. He had vanished without a trace.
That didn’t matter now. They had bigger problems facing them.
Max barked at the log house without pause. He’d pace back and forth, then rear back on his hind legs while howling.
Both Russell and Cathy collapsed to the grass. They were far enough away from the fire to be out of harm’s way. A wheeze escaped her lips as she struggled to breath. Russell coughed and hacked, trying to expel the smoke that had a tight grip on his lungs.
“Are you—ok?” he asked through a coughing fit.
Cathy’s face was smirched with soot. Her eyes shined as tears streamed over her soiled cheeks. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
Russell placed his hand on her shoulder as Max trotted over to her side. He licked at the sadness that raced down the sides of her face as she rubbed the crown of his head.
Off in the distance, Russell spotted two glowing red lights, followed by the squealing of tires.
Bastards.
He stood up and dashed around the cabin toward the driveway that led to the street. The building that housed Cathy’s Jeep and other tools was ablaze as well.
Russell stopped on a dime and slid over the loose dirt. His chin dropped as he watched the flames consume the building. He turned on the heels of his boots, searching the darkness for a watering hose, or anything else he could use to douse the fire.
Cathy rushed over to Russell with Max matching her stride for stride. She peered at the fire with an emotionless gaze. Her eyes shined with sadness, but Cathy didn’t break down. She ran her hand under her nose and cleared her throat. The torment of losing her house and valuables fell to the wayside. She grabbed Russell’s arm and tugged.
“It’s not safe to be around here.” Her voice was infused with anger. It sounded like a hoarse growl.
“What about the fires?” Russell countered while pointing at the blazing inferno. “We need to put them out.”
Cathy shook her head while she jerked at his arm. “It’s too far gone. We couldn’t put it out even if we want
ed to. Besides, there’s combustible materials in the garage as well as the house. It could blow at any minute.”
She secured the strap to the rucksack around her waist and adjusted the rifle on her shoulder. Clutched in her hand was a small, black tactical flashlight.
Russell glanced at the garage. The flames danced in his eyes as his ticket to getting back to Sarah evaporated. Meager shreds of hope remained. The same anger that surged in Cathy had now spawned life in Russell as he back-peddled away.
Max took point with Cathy and Russell flanking him. She thumbed the switch to the flashlight. A strident beam of light shot from the lens and illuminated the uneven terrain before them.
They darted past the tree line at full tilt and entered the thicket. The sharp, pointed ends of the bushes stabbed at their bodies as they forced their way through.
An explosion went off.
The ground quaked under their feet.
A large fireball arched into the darkness and blossomed at the peak.
They dropped to the dirt and shielded their heads with their arms.
Max cowered next to Cathy as she held him close.
Russell stayed by their side as he braced for the unknown.
A slight ringing festered inside his ears. It made it hard to hear over the crackling of the fire and smaller, less volatile explosions that popped off.
Cathy removed her arms, then stood up. Russell followed suit, although, he was a bit more apprehensive and moved at a slower pace.
“You good,” Russell asked panting.
Cathy bowed her head. Coils of flames arched from the fire and brimstone, lashing across the night sky.
She looked to the road and narrowed her gaze. A scowl washed over her unkempt face. Her brow furrowed in anger as her nostrils flared.
Russell could relate. Having someone rob one of their life was never an easy pill to swallow. One would want nothing more than payback. Revenge for what had been taken from them.
Cathy turned away from the fire and patted her leg. Max snapped to and waited for her command. “Let’s get moving.”
Russell glanced at Cathy, who had walked away with Max by her side, then back to the dying remnants of her house. “Where are we going?”
“To see a friend.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SARAH
The city was in a state of turmoil. Pandemonium reigned over the inhabitants like a heavy-handed dictator and hadn’t let up. It was scary to see the madness unfold during the day, but the unhinged metropolis was just as unsettling at night.
An endless ether of darkness swept across the city like a cover had been draped over it. Smoke swallowed the moon and stars. The only visible light was from the orange, fiery glow of buildings burning in the not too far distance.
A burnt smell tainted the air. It clung to Sarah’s skin and clothes like a leech. It made her sick to her stomach, but she held firm and pushed through the unsettling sensation.
Boston looked like a third-world country that was in the throes of war. The lack of lights from the buildings and streetlamps made it feel desolate and abandoned.
Society had crumbled and reverted to a primitive state faster than Sarah thought possible. With any such cataclysmic event, she had thought it might take a few weeks before people regressed to baser instincts, but with the power gone and no communications, it happened in a blink.
It was like a switch was thrown and anarchy was now the rule of law. Not all joined the depraved in causing havoc, but enough had.
In the end, though, it wasn’t that farfetched. At any given moment, anyone could see that humanity teetered on the edge of a full-blown volcanic meltdown. They just needed a reason, a catalyst to kick things off.
Black Friday shopping was a prime example. Those step discounts churned the waters of the population like chum to sharks. Once the doors opened, and the flood of people rushed in, it was every man and woman for themselves. This was no different.
That simple and yet scary notion was part of the reason why Sarah wanted to find Mandy as fast as possible. Out of all the people in Boston, Mandy was her best friend, and closest confidant. When her life went to hell a year ago, Mandy helped her through the pain when Russell was emotionally unable to do so. Because of that, Sarah had to find her, and get off the streets until they could figure out what was going on, and what they’re next move would be.
Mandy’s apartment was on the other side of town from where Sarah was. She figured that’s where Mandy would’ve headed when the shit hit the fan. No doubt, Copley Place would’ve been closed down, or worse yet, a free-for-all for the looters and scum looking to take advantage of the discord. Given the state of the city, making it to Mandy’s, or home for that matter, at night, was not going to be the best move.
Sarah checked her phone for a signal, hoping at least communications had been restored. Service was still suspended and displayed the zero with a line through it. Her battery was desperately low and needed to be charged, but that was going to be easier said than done.
Crap.
Her shoulders sagged as she sighed in frustration. Sarah continued on through the blinding city, alone and on edge, looking for a place that she could hold up until daybreak.
The Glock stayed glued to her hand with her finger over the kill switch. Her head was on a constant swivel from the ominous sounds that loomed from the shadows of the buildings and alleyways.
There weren’t as many people out as there were when the sun was high in the sky. Some of the ones who were out had flashlights that sliced through the blackness as they flew past her.
Ghastly gray figures stalked the streets, weaving in and out of the pockets of cars that sat abandoned on the roads. Sarah kept a keen eye on the cloaked figures who looked more like demons lurking in the darkness than people.
Glass shattered.
The shadowy figures leaned through the missing windows. Jagged pieces of glass rimmed the outside. They rummaged through the vehicles left behind without regard. Beams of light illuminated the vehicles and the criminals ransacking them.
Footfalls echoed behind Sarah. Each fell in sync with hers. She tilted her head to the side, and tried to lay eyes on who was trailing her. All she could see was a black figure, his identity protected by the night.
The Creeper popped into her head with his evil grin that he showed when dubious intentions were on his mind.
A wave of panic crashed into Sarah as she picked up the pace. The man flanking her responded in kind. She looked to the brick buildings that lined both sides of the road. The windows were dark and void of any light. She was on her own, and would have to defend herself as best she could if it came to that.
The footfalls increased to a sprint that gained on Sarah. She stopped, then turned around to face her attacker. The Glock lifted up with both hands clutching the grip. If he was searching for an easy mark, he’d soon regret his choice.
The man rushed past her. He didn’t stop or try to engage Sarah in any sort of way. He peered back over his shoulder as panicked breaths escaped his lips.
Christ.
Sarah breathed heavily as she watched the man race down the sidewalk to the intersection. He vanished around the corner of the building without slowing his hastened pace.
Although Sarah had found strength in herself over the past year, a part of her wished Russell was by her side. Despite his flaws and inability to deal with the death of their daughter, she knew he’d protect her at any cost.
Trudging through the darkness of the powerless city, and dealing with the criminal element that lurked around every corner, made Sarah want Russell back that much more. It wasn’t just because she was scared from the threats the world had to offer, and she needed him to protect her.
She missed the comfort she once had with him, and how he made her feel like a queen. The love that they shared, and the deep bond that kept them tethered to each other. Although she had distanced herself from him, because of how he was behaving, she still wanted hi
m back, and hoped she could tell him as much.
Gunfire crackled in the dismal sky. It was close. The looters ransacking the vehicles stopped, then stepped away from the cars.
Their flashlights trained down the street from whence Sarah had come. They surveyed the sidewalks and the few cars that were parked askew in the road.
A set of headlights slashed through the darkness and shined their way. The grumbling of an engine echoed down the street as the lights grew larger, and more intense.
The looters fled from sight with what valuables they had scored. They scurried like mice back to the shadows of the buildings and alleyways.
Sarah gulped. The looters were afraid of whatever it was that was heading their way. She figured it wasn’t the police from the absence of flashing red and blue lights.
No. It had to be something more sinister to cause the dreadful hoodlums to flee in fear.
The car skirted around the vehicles in the road. Music blared from the windows. Sarah backpedaled as the car hopped up on the sidewalk. It straddled the road and walkway, bypassing the pocket of cars that blocked the street.
Sarah turned and hoofed it down the sidewalk to the corner of the building. She skirted the edge, and continued running at a dead sprint.
The vehicle’s engine grew louder as did the music. She had seen numerous cars and other vehicles plow over sidewalks and run over any pedestrians who got in their way. Sarah wasn’t sure who they were, or what they were after, but she didn’t want to find out. It was better to play on the side of caution.
Her feet hammered the concrete as she searched for a building to slip into. At this point, it didn’t matter. Anything would do until the car went about its way.
She rushed past a sprawling apartment complex and stopped. At the top of the landing was a single door. She jerked her chin back to the intersection. The width of the beam from the car’s headlights grew larger. It was now or never.
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