The Next Ten: Beginnings Series Books 11 - 20

by Jacqueline Druga

  “Why would Robbie mind?” Ellen smiled. “And no, it’s not Robbie.”

  “Henry tends to get neurotic if he even thinks we’re . . .”

  “Dean., stop. You won’t figure it out.”

  “There’s only a hundred and . . .”

  “Dean.” Ellen walked to the counter. “Let’s go home. Here, I’ll help carry the folders.” Reaching out, Ellen saw the folded piece of paper with Dean’s name handwritten on it. “Dean, this looks like Andrea’s writing.”

  “It is.”

  “What’s it . . .” Ellen reached for it, but Dean pulled it away. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just . . . . it’s not that.” Dean placed the note in his pocket.

  “Are you feeling bad about her tomorrow?”

  Dean didn’t answer at first. He just grabbed his stack of folders. “You can say I really don’t give shit about what happens to Andrea tomorrow. In fact, I will take pleasure in watching.” He moved to the door.

  “Dean,” Ellen gasped out. “What the hell was that about?”

  Dean closed his eyes then turned around. He reached into his pocket, pulled out the note, and held it up. “Andrea explained a lot in this note. You can say . . . it was her final confession.” Saying no more, Dean shoved the note back in his pocket and walked out.

  Ellen didn’t respond any further, she just followed Dean out. She may have left the lab with a stack of folders, but she also left the lab seriously wondering, for the first time, if perhaps the note to Dean wasn’t the only recent letter Andrea wrote to a Beginnings resident.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  November 3

  New Bowman. Montana

  Their hands locked tightly in the silent darkened room, Robbie just didn’t want to leave Andrea. He was so sad and he held his eyes closed. His head swayed slowly from side to side.

  “Robbie,” Andrea spoke sadly. “You have to go.”

  Robbie sniffled once and raised his eyes. “I hate leaving right now.”

  “You have to end this.” Andrea lifted their joined hands and brought her lips to them. “You know this.”

  “But now?”

  “Now,” she spoke just as sadly as he did. “You have to be our hero. End this bitterness. Put an end to everything right now. You need to shine, Robbie.”

  “I can’t believe this is happening.”

  “Oh, the Good Lord will watch over me and I’m expecting you to continue in his work.”

  Robbie nodded.

  “Robbie,” she whispered. “It’s gonna be a long time until we see each other again. You . . . you take care of your father. O.K.? And your brothers. Do me a favor. You keep Ellen and Dean in line. Them two.” She smiled.

  “I can’t go, Andrea. I can’t do this flight. Not right now. Not with all that’s gonna happen.”

  “Oh yes you can.” Andrea clenched his hand tighter. “You must. When I’m standing out there today, I’m not alone. I know all of you are with me. And I will take great pride in knowing, you are out there ending this bitter Savage war.”

  Gasping out a breath in preparation for his emotional goodbye, Robbie reached out. With tears in his eyes, he embraced Andrea for the final time.

  ^^^^

  Andrew’s Air Force Base

  Was he praying? In thought? Or just worried? Steward had to wonder as he looked at George. Facing the jet, his hands against the surface, George leaned into the aircraft with his head down. He had been that way for a long time.

  “Sir.” Steward apprehensively approached. “Sir, if you don’t leave right now, you won’t make the synchronization time.”

  Lifting his head, George’s face was plastered with more worry than ever before. Looking at Steward, George stepped back and nodded.

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  In the front seat of the Jeep, right outside of the Clinic, Dean stared down at his hands. ‘I’m telling you, Frank. She’s not coming.”

  “Dean, she is. What did she say last night?”

  “Nothing. Absolutely nothing about it.”

  After tapping his hand several times on the steering wheel, Frank got out of the Jeep. “I’ll be right back.”

  “She won’t come.”

  Frank didn’t listen. He just headed directly into the Clinic. Down the hall, to the lab, he moved and walked inside. Ellen was there with Elliott. “El, let’s go.”

  Slowly Ellen looked at Frank. “I’m not going.”

  “I can’t believe this shit. Get your ass in the Jeep.”

  “I am not going, Frank,” Ellen stated strongly. “I can’t.”

  “What?” He stepped to her. “Why?”

  “I can’t watch it.”

  “You won’t have to. Just be there.”

  “Being there is just as bad,” Ellen said. “Being in New Bowman will make it a reality. I don’t want to face this. I don’t want to believe that Andrea is going to die so I won’t. I’ll just tell myself she left.” She spoke softly, “And I’ll live with that.”

  “That’s wrong.”

  “It’s what I want.”

  “You should be there for my dad,” Frank told her.

  “Joe knows I’m there with him. So does Andrea. But I stay here. I’ll pray for her and Robbie here. Here. Right here and nowhere else.”

  “Please come.” Frank beckoned softly.

  Sadly Ellen peered up to him. “I can’t.”

  He nodded once, laid his hand on her cheek, and kissed her. “I’ll call you. Elliott, watch her,” Frank instructed as he walked from the lab, only stopping to look back once more before finally leaving.

  Elliott had said nothing. He didn’t know what to say and it was when he moved to Ellen, that he realized he didn’t have to say anything at all. His being there was what she needed because she turned to him and into his arms and Elliott held her.

  ^^^^

  New Bowman, Montana

  , Joe stood behind Andrea with his arms wrapped tightly around her, his cheek pressed to hers. Andrea sobbed. “It’s not too late to change your mind,” Joe whispered. “It’s not.”

  “It has to be done. Just tell me. Assure me.”

  “The children . . . they’ll be fine. I’ll watch. I’ll take care of them. There will not be a day that goes by when they won’t miss you.”

  Andrea’s shoulders heaved as she cried even harder “Tell them every day for me that I love them.”

  “I will.”

  “I love you . . . Joseph Slagel.”

  “And I love Andrea. Know that.” Just as Joe placed his lips to her cheek the sound of the turning doorknob went through them both like a bolt of electricity.

  Corporal Lewis stepped into the room. He seemed so nervous. “It’s . . . it’s time.”

  ^^^^

  “N-now something just doesn’t seem right,” Rev. Bob said to Hal as Hal stopped the Jeep.

  “What doesn’t seem right? You’re being released to the other side.”

  “There’s no one here.” Rev. Bob looked around.

  “They’ll be here. A deal’s a deal. Now out. Out.” Hal shooed his hand.

  Nervously, Reverend Bob stepped out of the Jeep. He grabbed his bag from the back. “Just wait here?”

  “Yep.”

  “It seems so far out.”

  “I won’t let the Society near my home. Do you blame me?”

  “I suppose not.” Rev. Bob moved away from the Jeep. “You aren’t going to shoot me are you?”

  “Me, no. That’s not my style. I’d behead you if it was my call.” Hal tossed the Jeep in gear.

  “Tell Andrea I sincerely am praying for her.”

  “I won’t see Andrea. I won’t witness that. Good luck to you, Reverend.” With a sad smile and a nod, Hal backed up the Jeep and drove away. Rev. Bob stood alone outside of New Bowman.

  ^^^^

  It was the last kiss. Sincere and emotional, Joe held on to Andrea until the UWA soldier took her
arm.

  Andrea didn’t want to look back, but she did as she was escorted up the long hill to the top where her death sentence would be delivered. She saw Joe mouth the words ‘I love you’ With her head held high, she walked.

  Joe was glad he wasn’t allowed up the hill. He didn’t want to be there. Standing at the bottom, he watched them ascend. The only one who wasn’t part of the firing squad allowed to be there was Dean. He not only was the witness, he was the one who would confirm her death.

  ^^^^

  His shield down and his mouthpiece close to his lips, Robbie veered his plane to the right. “Flipper Boy, this is Eagle One. Do you read?”

  “Why do you insist on calling me that?” George replied over the airwaves.

  “It’s a cool name. Be honored.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.”

  “I’m coming into scope now.”

  “I am too.”

  “Getting ready to make my first visual sweep in approximately . . .”

  “Three minutes and twenty-two seconds,” George finished the sentence. “I’m right with you in time.”

  “Destination in scope. Flipper Boy, Eagle One is flying in.”

  After a grunt, George responded, “Destination in scope on this end. Flip . . . Flipper Boy is moving in.”

  ^^^^

  They lined up twelve across, standing tall at attention, rifles held erect beside them, yet not one of the eight UWA or four Beginnings men would look at Andrea as Corporal Lewis led her to the post not twenty-five feet from them.

  Grabbing her hands, Corporal Lewis secured them behind the post with rope. “Would you like a hood?”

  “No.” Andrea whimpered out she tried to make eye contact with Dean but he wouldn’t even look at her. He moved to behind the firing squad at a distance. Andrea know the time was coming. She felt it more so when Corporal Lewis finished tying her wrist and stepped back.

  Taking a deep breath through her nostrils, Andrea stopped crying, drew in every ounce of courage she had and held her head high.

  ^^^^

  “Finally,” Rev. Bob spoke in relief and stood up from his seat on his suitcase when he saw the military truck with the Caceres Society symbol on the doors. “It’s about time.” He picked up his bag and move to the truck.

  A Society soldier stepped out, staring past him.

  Rev. Bob tried to hand him the bag but the soldier wouldn’t take it. “Fine. Should I put it in the back?” Still no response. “Damn lab created zombies.” Chuckling at his joke and glad he was leaving, Rev. Bob walked to the back of the truck. Reaching up to put the bag in, the tarp to the truck opened. “Oh my God.”

  Frank grinned as he stepped from the back of the truck.

  “But . . . But . . .these are Society . . .”

  “You really should pay more attention to what the defectors look like.”

  “Shit.” The bag dropped from his hand.

  “Surprised?” Frank asked and watched Rev. Bob nod. “I thought so.” Giving just one more snide smile, Frank raised his revolver, aimed, and released one fatal shot.

  There was a delayed reaction, then Rev. Bob bodily dropped back.

  “Ha.” Frank put his gun away.

  “Sick.” Hal came from the back of the truck. “Is this an acquired skill?”

  “I like to think of it as more of an . . . an art.” As Frank raised his hand, he saw his watch. “Shit, Hal. It’s happening.”

  ^^^^

  “Target in scope,” Robbie stated.

  “Target in scope.”

  “Eagle One locked in.” Robbie flicked a switched.

  “Locked in.” George did the same.

  “On my call,” Robbie said. “Let’s do it.”

  “Yes,” George replied. “Let’s end this Savage war,”

  “Three . . . two . . . one . . . drop.” Robbie’s thumb depressed the button.

  Together, at the same time, thousands of miles apart, the deliverance of instant death to the massive Savage camps were released.

  The missiles dropped.

  ^^^^

  “Ready,” Corporal Lewis called out. He stared forward, not at Andrea, nor at his men. His frame of mind was evident on his face. He had taken himself mentally from the situation.

  The executioners raised their weapons.

  “Aim.”

  The shifting of chambers rang out as the guns were aimed.

  There was silence. There was hesitation. Corporal Lewis’ heart pounded in his throat. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

  A single tear rolled down Andrea’s cheek.

  “Fire.”

  The popping crackling sound of gunfire echoed in the air. Twelve shots were fired and Andrea’s body jolted with everyone single one. Twelve shots. That’s all that was needed.

  With the smell of gunpowder predominantly around him, Corporal Lewis spoke up, “Weapons down.” Slowly he shifted his views to Andrea. Still bound to the post, her body was saturated in blood and her head hung low. “Dr. Hayes.”

  Clearing the tenseness from his throat, Dean walked forward past the line of gunmen. His face showed no emotion as he approached a still Andrea. Reaching up to her red stained neck, Dean felt for a pulse. His hand dropped and he slid his hand down Andrea’s face, closing her open eyes. He faced Corporal Lewis. “Dead.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Beginnings, Montana

  There was a different air of feeling as Frank sat in his office alone. His night shift wasn’t far from starting and already he knew it would be the last one. He reviewed the information taken from the surveillance cameras on the jets. The Savage camps were gone. A feeling in his gut told him there would be no retaliation, not yet at least.

  A feeling a safety not felt for a while was with Frank. He knew the problem with the Savages was not a hundred percent gone. It would never be, not with a world so bad but it was under control. He wanted to believe they were at peace, but he knew that wasn’t possible. Peace was a word that mankind had long strived for yet never achieved or would. Whether it be in a pre-plague world, or apocalyptic world, as long as wills collided, war would always be imminent.

  But for the time being, Frank enjoyed the break.

  ^^^^

  The light from the greenhouse told Henry he was right in his assumption on where to find Hector. Going in, he headed straight to the office where Hector sat. “Working late?” Henry asked as he knocked on the door.

  “Yep. Have to. I’m short a person.” Hector tossed his clipboard. “Blackmail will do that to you.”

  Running his fingers through his hair, Henry stepped inside the office. “So much happened today, I . . . I need something to take my mind off of everything. Do you feel . . . feel like working a little harder? Maybe working together, we can find out exactly what Bev is up to?”

  Without hesitation, Hector stood up. “What do you need me to do?”

  ^^^^

  New Bowman, Montana

  Joe’s fork dropped as sadly as his head at the dinner table.

  “Dad.” Hal reached out. “It’ll work out. I promise.”

  Joe nodded.

  “Pap.” Johnny came from the back hall. “Denny just wants to be alone and Katie is sleeping.”

  “I’ll check on them later.” Joe stood up. “Are you heading back?”

  “Me?” Johnny asked. “Unless you want me to stay.”

  “You know what, John? I’d like that.”

  Smiling, Johnny nodded. “Then I stay in New Bowman with you.”

  ^^^^

  Beginnings, Montana

  Danny Hoi, always upbeat, was not immune to depression and he wasn’t in the mood to get drunk. He needed something to take his mind off the events of the day and all the repairs he had to do in Beginning in the post-attack.

  Being creative and doing good always made Danny feel better and he knew of someone he had been neglecting that needed some of Danny’s good doing. Though he couldn’t promise any results, Danny had to try. Toting his lapto
p computer, Danny headed to Containment to see Richie.

  ^^^^

  “One hundred even.” Ellen laid down the thermometer then sat on the couch next to Elliott. “What all are you feeling?”

  “Just . . . just tired, El.” Elliott slowly shook his head. “It’s frustrating. I feel so tired. My whole body is numb.”

  Reaching out, Ellen laid her hand over Elliott’s. “Yesterday was eventful. You didn’t stop.”

  “I don’t want to stop.”

  “Well, sometimes you’ll have to,” Ellen explained. “That doesn’t make you weak. It makes you smart. We’ll just sit back and . . . relax tonight.”

  “I’d like that.” Elliott gripped on to her hand and stared at her.

  “Hey now,” Robbie said loudly as he just walked in Ellen’s house. “Knock the shit off.”

  “Yeah!” Jess followed behind.

  Elliott quickly pulled back his hand. “Robbie. Jess. Jess, I’m sorry I . . .”

  “I’m kidding,” Jess stated.

  Ellen looked at the pair. “What are you two doing here?”

  “Entertainment,” Robbie answered.

  “Yes, we’re going to strip,” Jess said, “And I’ll get the drinks.”

  Ellen’s eyes widened. “Strip?”

  “Ha.” Robbie set a box on the coffee table. “And you believe that. Man, El, are you kinky.” He looked at Elliott. “Elliott, are you all right?”

  “Yes.” Elliott blinked. “Just kind of tired.”

  “Oh. Are you too tired to play?” Robbie asked.

  “Play what?”

  Robbie grinned. “With all that happened, I need to just forget and relax, so I thought nothing was better than a good game of Pictionary.”