One of the vehicles had pulled alongside them.
"We have to go!" she shouted to the others.
Breaking through her fear, she swung the door open and stepped out into the wind, ushering the others. The road was littered with bodies of beasts and men. Several soldiers lay freshly fallen in the snow. The soldiers waved and screamed.
"Come on!" she yelled.
She tugged the back door, leading Joseph, Maria, and Emily out of the car. Lana's high-pitched cry filled the night. The world was a chaotic mix of blood and gore. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the beast that had been ripped from the hood, rolling in between two houses with the other.
And then they were piling into the vehicle, men with fatigues grabbing them and pulling them inside. The snarl of creatures was replaced by barking orders and men making plans. The Humvee kicked up snow as it peeled away.
Chapter Thirty-Four
The Humvee growled as it gained traction, taking them away from the scene. The other vehicles fell in line around it—one in front and one behind. Kelsey and the others fought for room, inhaling the smells of grease and men's sweat. Looking out the window, she saw the fallen bodies of beasts and men. The fire and the commotion had drawn the remainder of the creatures. Most were dead. The ones that weren't were writhing in their death throes. Kelsey could only speculate that Tom's information had made it to others. The bullets had worked.
They drove past the ruined houses and neighborhoods—streets that had taken much longer to navigate on foot—in a fraction of the time. The soldiers spoke in phrases she didn't understand. Several times, she looked next to her, confirming her companions were all there. Her fear was that one of her companions would disappear, even though she knew they'd made it.
Driving in the Humvee reminded her of the trip in the fire truck. Back then she'd wanted to believe it was over. Mike and Officer Flannery had promised her they'd seen the worst of it. And now they were dead. She promised herself she wouldn't relax until the storm was over.
They plowed through a road filled with carcasses and blood. The brays of the creatures had died off, leaving Kelsey to watch the bodies of the dead, wondering how things would ever return to normal.
"I'm Sgt. Greenwood," the man in the passenger's seat told them. He had a weather-beaten face and a moustache.
Sgt. Greenwood appeared as rattled as the survivors, despite Kelsey's guess that he'd been in service for a while. The driver was Pvt. Erickson.
Kelsey introduced herself and the others. Halfway through, she realized she didn't know the names of the other women they'd picked up.
"I'm Jane, and this is Olivia," one of them said.
Lana's crying had subsided, seguing to a complacent coo. Kelsey smiled. Joseph and Maria kept her occupied.
"Are there any more of you?" Sgt. Greenwood asked.
"Yes," Kelsey said. "But not here."
"In the bunker?"
Kelsey was confused for a moment before she remembered Mike's broadcast. "You heard us on the radio?"
"Yes. Communication was terrible, as you can imagine. But we managed to catch enough of the address to get us here."
"The fire did the rest," Kelsey surmised.
"What happened to the fireman we were talking to?"
"He's dead," she told them. "Officer Flannery and Mike were killed by some men that tried to get to us earlier. But there are two children in the bunker: Katherine and Silas."
"Are they injured?"
"No," Kelsey said, praying that was the case. "Is there more help coming?"
Sgt. Greenwood was silent for a moment. "Our resources are spread out right now. There're other soldiers in the surrounding towns, but as of now, we're it."
Kelsey hugged her jacket, battling off the steeping cold. "What are our plans now?"
"I'm not sure. We've lost contact with the others. Our initial plan was to get a handle on this thing. Now our goal is to survive." Sgt. Greenwood's face was grave.
Kelsey nodded. Looking into the sky, thinking about the final night, she said, "We should get to the bunker. We'll be safe there until morning."
She expected Sgt. Greenwood to argue. She was surprised when he agreed. "That's a damn good idea, Kelsey."
The moon was full as they pulled onto Mike's street. The fire truck was silent and lifeless, keeping vigil for an owner who would never return. Since escaping the gory scene, Kelsey and the others hadn't seen any sign of the beasts. Her hope was that they'd all been killed, though she didn't trust it enough to stay in the open.
Rather than parking in the road, the Humvees drove directly over the snow-covered yard until they'd reached the small shed. The bodies of Mike and Officer Flannery weren't in sight. Kelsey had pulled them to the back. If she hadn't been in a rush to get to the other survivors, she might've buried them.
She would, when this was over.
The soldiers disembarked, training their weapons across the yard. When they'd determined it was safe to exit, they led Kelsey and the others out of the vehicle. The walk felt surreal. Kelsey's legs were stiff and sore from running. She felt like she might collapse. The only thing keeping her going was the thought of Katherine and Silas.
They entered the shed and gathered around the entrance.
"Do you think they'll open up?" Sgt. Greenwood asked.
"I hope so." Kelsey swallowed. Mike's words came back to her as she crouched by the door and raised her hand. She rapped four times.
A long pause gave her the sinking feeling that something might be wrong.
A rustle from the other side of the entrance made her heart leap.
"It's Kelsey!" she called, though she doubted they could hear her.
The click of a lock and the crack of a door gave her another dose of relief. Kelsey couldn't stop her eyes from welling up when Katherine's head popped into view. She hugged the little girl, tears rolling down her face as she located Silas.
The bunker was more crowded than before. What were once five survivors were now fifteen. Despite the cramped conditions, the place felt strangely empty. The deaths of Mike and Officer Flannery were so sudden Kelsey hadn't had a chance to process them.
She hadn't processed Tom's, either.
Was he still alive? She hadn't been able to verify what had happened to him. She tried to convince herself he was still fighting, and that when this was over, she'd find him. But that hope, like so many others, was slim. Her eyes welled up as she thought of the words Tom had spoken the night before.
"One more night and you'll be through it."
She just wished he'd made it, too.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Tom struggled to stand. The sky was a perfect canvas, broadcasting the light of the moon. Without the other beasts underneath it, it was radiant, beautiful. He gazed at the ground, taking in the remnants of The Great Storm.
The bodies of his brethren were everywhere. What were once savage creatures were now pale, naked bodies. Several bore teeth marks from where he'd finished them off. He waded through the carnage, his body aching from various wounds. Blood dripped from his nose and side. Despite the violence, he was still standing.
He didn't know for how much longer.
Hours ago, he'd watched the Humvees pull away. Watching them go had given him a grim sense of satisfaction. With the night almost over, he was hopeful the survivors would find safety.
The primal urges—fiercely strong at the start of the evening—had faded. Whether it was the waning hours of night or his lack of strength, he wasn't sure, but his legs buckled as he walked. The body he'd learned to control was failing him. On top of that, one of the soldier's bullets had struck him in the side. Even if the other wounds healed, that one wouldn't.
He fought for purpose as he walked through the snow. The appearance of a silhouette in the road forced him to a halt. Unlike the prone bodies around him, this one was standing.
Tom sniffed the air. He cocked his head. Despite the weariness in his body, his instincts were sharp. It
was another beast. The creature advanced with a thin cry, carrying its small, wounded frame across the snow. Tom had seen this beast before.
Jeffrey.
Tom waded through the snow. He needed to help the boy. He wasn't sure how, but he'd find a way. Jeffrey's leg was clearly still injured; he limped as he dragged it through the snow. He must've followed the others, forcing himself through the pain. His instinct to feed was greater than the concern for his welfare.
Or was it something else?
Jeffrey snarled as he walked faster. In an instant, Tom understood. Seeing Tom had incited his anger. Tom had killed his mother, had killed Jason. He was coming for revenge.
Tom backpedaled and attempted to change course. He had no desire to hurt the boy. Not after what had happened to Rosemary and Jason. Regardless of what the boy was, Tom couldn't kill him like he'd killed the rest of his family.
Tom strode through the snow, the bullet wound in his side screaming, trying to distance himself from the angry boy. He felt like he was about to collapse. His head swam with pain. Too late, he realized he couldn't escape.
Jeffrey knocked into him, forcing him to the ground. Jeffrey's claws were like daggers, slicing into Tom's skin. Tom fought back with the remaining strength he had, focusing on holding the boy's arms at bay. If he could ward him off until morning, maybe he could make it right.
But he doubted that would happen. The moon still had light left.
Each angry jab from Jeffrey was payback for the deserved guilt Tom felt. He'd failed Rosemary. Jason. Abraham. Sally. Lorena. He deserved this.
His desire to fight back was waning, urging Tom to let go. He had no direction. No purpose. Days of seeking refuge were over. Maybe it was time to submit to the feral claws that were digging into him. The town that had been his home for eighteen years would become his resting place.
I'll see you soon, Lorena.
Thinking of Lorena and of Jeremy, listening to the slice of Jeffrey's claws in his body, Tom sank further into the snow.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kelsey scoured the dead bodies that littered the snow in the pale morning light. The creatures that had viciously reigned the night before were no more than stiff, pale humans. Their exposed skin was covered in bullet holes and frozen wounds. She covered her mouth with her hand. Despite what they'd been, the sight of so many dead was disturbing.
How will the rest of the world believe what happened here without having witnessed it?
Sgt. Greenwood and two other soldiers walked next to her. It'd taken some convincing for them to return. Her hope had been for some impossible miracle. But she knew it'd been foolish to think that. Walking faster, she stared from body to body in hopes of finding the one she was looking for.
She needed to know.
Looking over her shoulder, she saw Emily's face pressed to the window of the Humvee. She'd insisted the others stay in the vehicle. She didn't want to subject them to any more carnage.
Kelsey kept walking while the soldiers swung their rifles from body to body. None moved. By the looks of it, the battle the night before had rid the town of the creatures. But the victory was hollow. She couldn't find who she was looking for.
She retraced their steps, envisioning the grisly encounter the night before. The neighborhood looked different in the daytime. The sun splashed light over the snow, creating soft edges, melting it in some of the warmest places. Much of the snow had been stamped down from the night's chase. She thought she located the path they'd taken from the field to the road, and confirmed that when she saw the vehicle they'd hidden in. The broken windshield and ripped driver's side mirror told a story she'd rather not relive.
"He's not here," she said finally, a lump of grief building in her throat.
Seeing her reaction, the soldiers lowered their heads. They muttered condolences.
"I'm sorry," Sgt. Greenwood said. After a moment, he said, "We should get back to the car."
She was too choked up to answer.
Swallowing her grief, Kelsey turned to face the others. Maria and Emily's faces were pressed against the window. Instead of seeing them, she envisioned Tom the last time she'd seen him, graciously accepting the blanket, assuring her he'd be all right. He'd saved them.
He'd saved them all.
As they trudged across the snow and back to the row of Humvees, Sgt. Greenwood reached over and squeezed her arm.
"It's over," he told her.
"I hope so," she whispered.
Epilogue
"Where have you been, Mr. Sotheby? It's been almost a month since I've last seen you."
"I've been busy."
"Hanging on the beach?" Tara Fielding smiled good-naturedly. "Or working?" She tucked her long dark hair behind her ears, staring at the client who had been visiting her office for months.
"Working mostly," the man said, his smile deepening. Tara smiled at his coy response.
"I thought you were retired?" she asked.
"That didn't last." He shrugged. "I needed to keep busy."
"Ah, that's right. You're doing maintenance at the condo complex, right?"
"Yes."
"How are you enjoying Clearwater Beach?"
"I'm loving it."
Tara stepped past the dream catcher, ushering her client toward the table. She instructed him to lie down while she cued the music on her stereo. He removed his light jacket and hung it on a hook.
"Is it really that cold out?"
"Old habits, I guess," the man admitted with a smile. "I'll take sixty degree weather any day. It sure beats the New England winters."
"You're from Connecticut, right?"
"Yep."
"You won't have to worry about any snow down here. As you've probably learned, we don't even sell shovels." Tara laughed.
"That's exactly why I moved."
"I'm going to get started now."
Tara waved her hands over his body while soft, ambient music played in the background. She instructed him to relax. Despite her attempts to channel her client's positive energy, she could tell he was distracted.
"You seem a little tense. Is something wrong?" she asked.
"Too many broken faucets," the man joked. Tara sensed something deeper, but she didn't ask. Tara prided herself on staying out of her client's business.
"I'll do my best to help you out," she said. "Just try to relax."
She continued waving her hands over him, hoping he'd settle down. Many of her clients took some time to get used to the process.
"I'm going to balance your chakras and your auras," she told him, holding a crystal above him.
"Okay."
Focusing on his midsection, she said, "I feel some heat radiating from this area."
"I had an injury last winter that never quite healed."
"I'll try to rid some of the negative energy from it," she said.
"Thanks." The man smiled. "I appreciate your assistance."
Tara performed the rest of her session. When she was finished, she turned off the music. She could tell the man was feeling better.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"Great," the man said, swinging his legs off the table. He smiled appreciatively as Tara took an appointment card and a pen from the counter.
"When would you like to book your next appointment?"
"Another month?"
"Sounds good."
"I wanted to book an appointment for someone else, too."
"Oh, really? Sure, who's it for?"
"My grandson. He's been staying with me."
"That's really nice. What's his name?"
"Jeffrey."
"I'll book him for the session right after yours."
"That'd be great."
"I look forward to seeing you both next month."
The man thanked her and gave her a handsome tip. Then he turned his attention to the window, where the warm, inviting rays of the sun filtered through the glass.
"Any plans today, Mr. Sotheby?" Tara ask
ed him.
"You know what? I've been working too much. Maybe I'll spend a day at the beach."
A smile stuck to his face as he threw on his light jacket and walked out into the daylight.
Author's Note
As I wrap up OUTAGE 5: THE CHANGE, we're in the midst of an unseasonably warm December in Connecticut. The temperature for the last few weeks has been in the 50's; unheard of for this time of year. It's hard to envision the bitter cold and the regular snowstorms that plagued us last winter, or the storm that inspired this story.
But, like everything else, I know the snow will be back. I have my snowblower and my shovel ready. I also have my silver bullets.
You never know when the beasts will return.
I hope you enjoyed OUTAGE 5: THE CHANGE. If you enjoyed the story and the series, let other readers know by leaving a review. If you're looking for something else to read, turn the page for a suggestion of other stories I've written.
Thanks as always for your support! You are the reason I do this.
Until next time, stay warm and stay safe,
Tyler Piperbrook
December 2015
Other Things To Read
If you liked OUTAGE, you might like the CONTAMINATION series, which is a fast-paced, post-apocalyptic zombie series with a twist. You can start with the Boxed Set (Books 0-3) FREE here.
If you're looking for a post-apocalyptic series with a spin on what our future might look like, try my collaborative series with Bobby Adair called THE LAST SURVIVORS. You can get the first book FREE here.
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