Powerless World: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller (Survive the Fall Book 1)

by Derek Shupert

  She figured the battery was dead since it hadn’t been charged in over a day. The phone hadn’t been keeping a charge well. It was on her to-do list to get it replaced.

  The screen flashed and acted as though it was going to load, but died instead. She thumbed the power button again. The phone refused to cycle on.

  Great.

  Rick came out of his bedroom just as Sarah placed the dead device back into her pocket. He secured his Glock behind his back in the waistband of his jeans. The bottom of the shirt was pulled over the firearm to conceal its presence.

  “Still no signal?” he inquired. “I haven’t even bothered with mine since early yesterday.”

  “Don’t know. Phone won’t turn on,” Sarah groaned. “I think the battery has died or something. You wouldn’t happen to have a portable charger or anything like that, would you?”

  Rick glanced over his apartment, deep in thought as he scrunched his lips. “Not that I can think of off the top of my head, but I still have moving boxes I haven’t gone through yet. Could be one in there.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’ll deal with it later. There probably isn’t a signal anyway,” Sarah retorted. Rick bowed his head and adjusted his shirt as she starred at him. “You sure you want to come? I’m more than capable of handling it on my own.”

  “I have no doubts that you can,” Rick countered with a wry grin. “Just consider me an insurance policy incase things get dicey.”

  “Insurance policy, huh,” Sarah parroted. “Are you expecting trouble?”

  “Given the state of things out there right now, yeah. I plan for the worst, and hope for the best. When the shit hits the fan, people become unpredictable and lose their minds. If and when the authorities get a handle on things, then I’ll think otherwise. Until then, you have to keep your guard up and be vigilant. There’s always some snake in the grass ready to strike.” Rick opened the door to his apartment, and offered a wink before peering out into the silent hallway.

  The boisterous ruckus from the night before had all but died. No heavy footfalls hammered the floors. The shouting had waned to a dull silence. Either the residents were dead in their apartments, or they were sound asleep.

  Rick ventured out into the hallway with Sarah flanking him. She pulled the door to and checked the knob, making sure it was secured and locked.

  She followed him down the hallway to the staircase. He didn’t appear to be as worried as he was last night. The dark had a way of pushing people to the edge of their own fears, regardless if there was a threat looming or not.

  They traversed the staircase down to the first floor, which was void of any people milling about. Only the sounds of their shoes filled the hallway.

  The main entrance to the building was still shut, but the window had been busted out. Shards of broken glass carpeted the tile floor. Each piece crunched under their feet as they approached.

  Rick peered at the few apartments that lined both sides of the corridor. The doors were shut with no evidence of a break in or foul play.

  He stopped, then glanced past the stairs to the remaining apartments that went farther back into the building. The natural light from the sun shining in through the window struggled to make it to the deep recesses of the structure. A blanket of darkness hung over the hallway, making it difficult to see.

  “Do you think anyone broke in over the night?” Sarah inquired.

  Rick craned his neck and squinted, then shook his head. “I don’t think so. Looks like they just busted out the window and didn’t bother coming in. I imagine there’s a lot of young people out trashing stuff just because they can.”

  That wouldn’t surprise Sarah. Delinquents seemed to be drawn to chaos and upheaval like a moth to a flame. Any chance they got to cause havoc, they were ready and willing to jump in.

  She had seen it enough times before this catastrophe that had shut the entire city down. Subway stations were the worst and other less than desirable places within Boston were breeding grounds for the unruly youth.

  The crunch of glass under their feet echoed down the hallway. Sarah flanked Rick and mimicked his movement.

  He peered through the missing window to the street. He grabbed the handle and pulled the stout door away from the jamb. He leaned against the wall lined with mailboxes and surveyed the area. It only took a few seconds of him craning his neck before he waved his hand.

  “Looks clear. Come on.” Rick advanced out onto the concrete landing with Sarah close behind. They looked over the street in both directions. It was void of any activity.

  The sky had a gray tint, which made it murky and dull. Brief pockets within the clouds allowed the sun to shine through. Smoke tainted the air. The buildings around them hadn’t suffered any sort of structural damage from the fires that had sprung up all across the city. Given how many fires burned across the city, she was glad to see buildings free of damage.

  “What do you think?” Sarah probed as they moved down the stairs to the sidewalk. “Do you think the police have gotten the city under control?”

  Rick’s head was on a swivel, looking down the streets for any activity that could be cause for concern. His face was stern and focused, fixed on the task at hand. Everything seemed to be all right, but he didn’t look convinced.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know if they have or not. Hard to tell. It’s still early in the morning. I imagine most everyone kept off the streets just to be safe. The cops are probably handling areas that need it most. There’s no way they could cover the entire city without additional support.”

  Sarah followed his gaze. Most of the cars she remembered seeing around the area were still there. A portion of the vehicles had suffered damage. Busted windows and dents peppered the steel bodies. No doubt from vandals.

  “Do you think the coast guard or military will be sent in to help out?”

  “I’d think eventually they would, but it hinges on how widespread this blackout is and if the police aren’t able to get things back under control. If it’s just Boston, then maybe. If it covers more cities or states even, then that’s a different ballgame all together. They’ll have to send in the military to keep the peace, or at least, get everything under control.”

  Rick looked at Sarah who was scanning over the abandoned cars and nearby buildings. “How far away is your friend’s place?”

  Sarah pointed to the east. “She’s on the other side of town. It’s not that far if you take a car or public transportation, but on foot, it’ll take a lot longer.”

  That was the last thing Sarah wanted to do, but she didn’t see any other choice. The subways had all stopped. Buses and taxis were an unknown, but she doubted they’d be running due to the state of things within the city. As far as she could tell, they were screwed.

  Rick turned on his heels, then glanced down the sidewalk. “Come on. I might have a way for us to get there.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  RUSSELL

  A ball of nerves and tension laid claim to Russell’s body. What else was new? It was a feeling Russell had become all too familiar with.

  The Knob Creek that sloshed about in his gut relaxed him some, but not enough to help him sleep. For the better part of the night, Russell paced the narrow opening between the twin-size bed and the other junk Thomas had crammed into the tiny bedroom.

  He contemplated finishing off the remainder of the spirit. There wasn’t much left in the brown-tinted bottle. Not for Russell, anyway. A few topped off glasses and it would be gone. Simple as that. But that wasn’t the issue.

  If he did drink it, his mind wouldn’t be as sharp, and he couldn’t risk that. Threats loomed large all around, and he didn’t know when they would spring their heads. A constant battle waged within his body. To drink or not. He was unsure if he could hold off the feeling.

  In the back of his mind, Russell could see Sarah’s disappointed expression for not being strong enough to hold off the temptation. She’d have her brow furrowed and arms folded across her ch
est as she tapped her foot. That was the worst part of drinking. The hangover paled in comparison to the sadness that washed over her face. He was tired of being responsible for such an expression. Things had to change.

  Russell roamed about the cabin in the dark until morning broke and the others got up. He tried his hand at grabbing some sleep on the couch in front of the fireplace, but it wasn’t in the cards. As soon as he closed his eyes, a million thoughts pelted his brain.

  Both Max and Butch scrambled down the hallway. Their claws fought for traction on the wooden floor. Heavy pants filled the silence of the log house as the animals navigated the furniture.

  Russell slouched on the couch with his head resting on the cushions. His body dripped with exhaustion, even though his mind was wound tight as a rope.

  A cup of dark coffee, black with nothing extra, was what he craved. Perhaps if he threw in a red bull for good measure he might be a functional human being. The liquid breakfast of champions.

  “Max. Where are you?” Cathy belted from the other end of the cabin. “I don’t want you rummaging about Thomas’s place.”

  The large dogs skirted the tables and chairs in haste, and found their way to Russell. He reeled back as they closed in on either side of him.

  Max wasn’t so much on his list of animals to be afraid of. Although big, he wasn’t unpleasant. Butch, on the other hand, knocked him to the ground and almost used his face as a chew toy.

  “They’re in here,” Russell called out.

  His voice was unsteady, filled with trepidation as Butch stared at him from the front of the couch. The clipped ears of the cane corso were taut, and his body rigid. He didn’t deviate his eyes from Russell which was unsettling and intimidating.

  Max licked Russell’s hand, then pawed at his forearm. A moan, then a sharp bark boomed from his snout as he tossed his head back.

  Russell rubbed the crown of Max’s head. The gentle German shepherd leaned into his touch. His tongue dangled out the side of his snout with joy.

  “You like that, huh?” Russell said to Max as he panted.

  Butch nudged his leg, but didn’t offer as warm of a welcome.

  Russell hesitated on petting the beast for fear that he might lose his hand, or worse.

  “Max,” Cathy called again, this time from the kitchen. His head tilted to the side, but he didn’t budge. She peered into the living room, and said, “He isn’t bothering you, is he?”

  “Not at all,” Russell responded with a shake of his head. “They’re keeping me company. Well, Max is. I feel like a prisoner with the warden staring at me with Butch, though.”

  “He looks like that most times,” Thomas chimed in with a raised voice from the hallway. “Did he nudge your leg?”

  “Yeah,” Russell answered.

  “He needs to go outside to do his business. Can you take him out for me?” Thomas inquired.

  Cathy shook her head as she walked toward Russell. “Here. I’ll take them out.”

  Russell held up his hand, stopping her. “It’s no problem. Some fresh air might do me some good and wake me up.”

  “You sure?” Cathy retorted with an elevated brow.

  “Yeah. It’s the least I can do. Besides, I’d like to stay on Max’s good side and stay off Butch’s shit list if at all possible.”

  Max dropped to the floor as Russell leaned forward. His tail wagged with excitement. He groaned, then turned toward the front door.

  Butch bulldozed past Russell after Max, forcing Russell up against the couch. The dog was a brute and carried himself as such. His rigid posture and unfriendly disposition made that apparent. It could’ve been because he wasn’t used to Russell, or perhaps he just didn’t like him for whatever reason. Hard to tell. As long as he didn’t try to claw his face again, it didn’t matter.

  “Hey,” Cathy said to Russell as he moved around the couch after the dogs. “Butch is a cane corso. It took me a bit to figure out his breed.”

  “And?”

  “Those dogs are inherently independent, loyal, and headstrong,” Cathy said. “They have to have a firm owner to keep them in check. If one is not careful, they can easily take over the leadership role and become the dominant aggressive.”

  Russell glanced to the large beast, then back to Cathy. “So, you’re saying that I just need to be more firm with him?”

  “It wouldn’t hurt.” Cathy peered at Thomas who was in the kitchen, rummaging through his upper cabinets. “That’s why Butch obeys and acts the way he does around him. Because the leadership has been defined and kept in place.”

  Both dogs groaned, then barked at the front door. Nature called and they were getting impatient.

  Russell tilted his head. Max groaned again and barked as he approached the duo. “Yeah, yeah. I’m coming. Got to go that bad, huh?” He wormed his way through the dogs, nudging them in the sides to move them out of his way. More groans of anxiousness loomed from their snouts.

  The door couldn’t open fast enough as Butch took the lead and forced his way out through the narrow gap. Max flanked the hulking brute as the two dogs raced from the porch and out into the chilly morning.

  Russell grabbed a coat from the hook near the side of the entryway, and put it on as he walked outside.

  A cool, crisp breeze whipped about as he zipped the coat up just below his neck. Both hands burrowed into the warmth of the wool pockets as he walked toward the railing.

  Watching the sun’s rays filter through the trees that surrounded the property was serene and calming. Although he longed for the concrete jungle, he could appreciate the amazing scenery before him.

  A heavy dew coated the grass in front of Thomas’s cabin. Both Max and Butch split up and searched the grounds for the perfect place to relieve themselves.

  The rustling of leaves from opposite sides of the property drew Russell’s attention. Their tails stood erect while they sifted through the foliage.

  “All right, guys. You about done?” he yelled.

  The dogs rooted through the tall grass and dense verdure for a bit longer before they came running out. They dashed across the open plot of ground before the cabin and made a beeline for Russell.

  Max stopped on a dime, then Butch. Their ears flicked as they skimmed over the nearby trees. Something had caught their attention.

  It was probably just another animal or perhaps the wind moving the leaves and branches of the trees. After all, they were out in the wilderness. There were bound to be animals foraging close by.

  But what if it wasn’t an animal or the wind? It could be more of Marcus’s men coming to burn Thomas’s place down or just kill everyone. Considering what happened at Cathy’s place, it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility.

  Both dogs stared at the dense line of trees. They scooted forward a few paces while barking under their breath. Muscles rippled through Butch’s chest as short ruffs fled his snout.

  Russell ventured down the stretch of porch to the edge of the cabin. He squinted and surveyed the area for any movement within the thicket that surrounded the bases of the trees.

  It was hard to pierce through the wall of vegetation, but he didn’t get the sense that a person was lurking beyond the barrier of bushes and shrubs since the dogs didn’t venture over there.

  “Come on, guys. Let’s head back inside,” he ordered.

  Both animals ignored Russell as they continued to skim over the area. Max turned away and trotted over to the porch while Butch remained deadlocked on the greenery.

  Max approached the front door and sat on his haunches, waiting to be let in. Butch grunted and snarled for a moment longer before retreating to the porch.

  Russell skimmed over the trees as he headed back to the entrance of the cabin. The nagging feeling of something not being right stuck to him like glue.

  He opened the door. The dogs flooded into the house in a mad dash. They slipped and lost their balance as their wet paws struggled to find traction on the planks of wood.

  Thomas a
nd Cathy were sitting by the fireplace conversing. It didn’t sound as heated as the night before. There were no raised voices or looks of frustration on either of their faces.

  Russell took a few steps forward, then paused. He turned toward the closed door and stared.

  “What’s wrong?” Cathy inquired.

  “Not sure. It’s probably nothing,” Russell responded. “Could just be me being paranoid given all that has happened.”

  Thomas shifted in his chair. “Did you see someone out there?”

  Russell shook his head. “No. The dogs were fixed on something in the bushes off to the west of the house. I couldn’t see any movement because of all the bushes and trees, but whatever was over there had their attention.”

  Cathy glanced at Thomas with a concerned look. She gulped. “Marcus hasn’t threatened you or anything like that, has he?”

  Thomas thought about it for a second. His hand rubbed the gray stubble on his box chin as he thought back. “Not really. I mean, his boys have stopped by to talk about my property, inquiring if I’d be willing to sell and such. They didn’t try anything like they did at your place if that’s what you mean. Maybe they haven’t gotten to that point. I’ve told them time and again that I’m not interested. So far, they haven’t pressed the issue. To be honest, I think they’ve been out here snooping around at night, though. I haven’t seen anyone, but Butch gets wound up tight at times and antsy. That’s why I was a bit defensive when you first arrived. I had plans of speaking with the sheriff about it, just so he’s aware.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me they were talking to you as well?” Cathy snapped with a bit of anger to her voice.

  Thomas shrugged. “I didn’t want to bother you with my problems. Besides, like I said, they weren’t really harassing me. Not like they were you.”

  Cathy lowered her head, shaking it in frustration. “Well, I don’t feel right leaving now knowing that they’re bothering you as well.”

  “It’ll be fine,” Thomas countered as Butch sat next to his chair. “I’ve got my bud here to protect me. Like we just talked about, when we go into town, we’ll stop by the sheriff’s office and lay everything out. We can at least get the process going for them to look into what happened at your place.”