Humanity Gone (Book 2): Facade of Order

by Derek Deremer

  If I can just weaken it. The chimney wasn't built for the weight of the water. Just weaken the integrity of the side facing the fire and it will collapse directly on it. I swing harder and harder. The whole corner brick is nearly gone.

  The tank still doesn't move.

  I keep swinging for the next brick and sometimes miss and hit the one farther in. Come on. Come on.

  Sweat rolls down into my eyes and wiping it away isn't an option. I swing and swing.

  All of a sudden, I hear all of the water in the tank adjust. The tank moves lower a fraction of an inch, and in the right direction! I have this. I slam the ax into the brick again. The tank falls a little bit more, still directly towards the fire.

  I stop and lean over to the crowd still trying to maintain the fire below.

  “Everyone move!” I shout. I pause a moment more and then give a few swings.

  A large crack goes up through the chimney and the water continues to shift. I strike again and the ax goes through the chimney. I try to retract the tool, but it doesn't give. I pull harder.

  It's stuck. I swear aloud again.

  I adjust to behind the tank and straddle the roof's peak. I turn and press my back up against the tank, pushing with every muscle in my body.

  My legs burn, but I keep pushing harder.

  Harder.

  Little by little it gives way, and I need to take a step backward. Then another. I back step and push and then all of a sudden the burden is gone. I turn in time to see the water tank explode on the fire. A few drops of water land on my face from below. The fire has become remarkably smaller. The others that below converge on the remaining flames with their buckets. We can manage these little ones now. I lie on the roof for a second and try to catch air in my lungs again.

  I did it.

  I turn my head to the right towards the other shed fire. Two houses are now on fire and the flames soar into the sky.

  It is hopeless.

  Chapter 26: Jocelyn

  I glance out the window at the growing inferno in the distance. The fire is spreading, and unless I'm very wrong, nothing is going to stop it. Smoke continues to billow into the night air, and my nose makes out burnt wood. We can finally leave this place.

  No, why would you say that. This place is home. I am home. I don't want this place to burn down. I wish I could help.

  What could I do anyway? I turn from the window toward the twins. Caitlyn looks concerned. Sara keeps looking out the other window that faces away from the compound. Both are dressed the same as they were at dinner. I guess neither of them went to bed. I ran over to check on everyone when I heard the explosions. Including Paige. Carter apparently had run off to fight the blaze. Paige asked me to stay with the twins while she headed to the medical tents. People will need her help.

  “Do you think they can stop it?” Caitlyn asks while pressing her face to the glass. The fire in the distance illuminates her skin. The fire is growing by the second.

  “Hopefully they will,” I respond. Sara stands at the door. I move over and sit in a chair beside the bed. Caitlyn comes over and sits on it.

  “We need to do something.” she says. “I don't just want to sit here.”

  What can we do? The thought tumbles in my mind for a while. Well we can try I guess. Sure, why not?

  “Girls, grab all the pots and large...”

  Boom. Another gas shed explosion pulls me to the window and finishes my sentence. No, it's not another shed. More explosions occur - one after another. The blasts echo between the houses and seem to come from all directions. Wait. Those aren't echoes. More explosions fill the night air.

  Gunshots.

  “Girls, it's an attack.”

  How the hell did they find us here so soon? Caitlyn and Sara both take off out of the room. I pull out my gun and hold it against my leg. I returned Paige's gun, but I never left home without that pistol Michael gave me. He never asked for it back. Outside, the chaos worsens as gunshots start to blend with screams. We are under attack.

  Caitlyn moves beside me and has her arrows and quiver at the ready.

  “What do we do, Jo?” she asks. Her intense blue eyes turn toward me, unblinking.

  “We fight.” I look at her bow. If what happened at the Sanctuary is any indicator, that will not be enough. “Cait, There's a another handgun in the study downstairs. Those arrows may not be enough.”

  She nods and looks back out the window.

  “Where did Sara go?” she asks in a growing panic. We leave the room and quickly go through the house shouting her name. She is gone.

  “Sara? Sara where are you?” I yell. A few more gunshots rattle the house from the outside. Screams also begin to come through the walls.

  “She's not here.” Caitlyn says to me.

  Before I can respond Caitlyn charges out the door.

  No, no. I need to stay with them. As I step off the porch, I enter a world of chaos. All throughout the neighborhood, dead bodies lie on the ground and live ones sprint from their homes and towards the school. I still can't see any of the shooters, but the pause between gunshots shortens with each breath. The shots come from all over; we must be surrounded. My head twists while searching through the crowds, but neither of the twins is visible. I lost them.

  I swear aloud.

  Bang.

  A gunshot hurts my ears, and I duck down beside the house among the bushes. Running to the school is suicide. I need to hide.

  For a moment, I am back on the campground. I am waiting for the deer. I press my back against the side of the house, and the shrubbery completely conceals my body as I sink to the ground. It is a lot easier to be the one hunting as opposed to the one being hunted.

  Good work. Thanks.

  I wait patiently as gunfire erupts closer and closer to my position. Some screams come from the direction of the school. Where are the shooters?

  The black figures catch the corner of my eye. I remember the first time I saw these uniforms five years ago. The New Americans. Things would end differently this time.

  These figures continue to shoot into the distance and don't notice this tiny red-head hidden among the brush. They walk past and continue to fire the occasional round in front of them. I slowly creep out of the bush and peek behind them. No one else is behind these three in this part of the town. I step out behind them.

  They still fire into the distance at the people fleeing.

  I raise the pistol up and point it to the third.

  Bet I can take down all three before one even turns around?

  Challenge accepted.

  I squeeze the trigger.

  Chapter 27: Sara

  Gunshots? I charge out of the room with Caitlyn, and we run down the steps to our rooms. For a moment I consider calling her name, but I know it would be futile at this point. I double check that the pistol is loaded and I run out the screen door and into the night.

  The gunshots hurt my ears as the inferno in the distance lights up this small town. Where would I go that will be the safest for now? This place is starting to look like a battlefield. I need to find somewhere safe.

  I jog along the street and step over a few dead bodies. I need to go where he will find me. If I go out the exit and away from the town, I can come back when the gunfire has ceased, and they are a lot less likely to accidentally shoot me.

  That should be the safest option for now. I head for the woods, but a hand grabs my shoulder.

  David.

  “Sara, where are you going? We need to get to the school. The helicopters might be here soon, and they will find you if you go out there in the open.” he grabs my hand and pulls me in the other direction. No. I don't want to go to the school.

  I don't want to be here anymore.

  That is why I stole the radio and set the gas sheds on fire. I knew roughly where we were and the billowing smoke told them exactly where we are.

  Find me Cole.

  Chapter 28: David

  “Come on, we need to get
in there. The school is the only safe place.” I grab Sara's arm and hurry her to the door. She seems to drag her feet. “Come on let's...”

  I turn to see the hold up. She stands a foot back. Her black hair slowly sways, and her bright blue eyes reflect the fire of the nearby building. It peers down a gun's sight.

  Pointed directly at me.

  “Sara, what? What are you doing?”

  “Sorry Dave, I liked you. But my place is not here.”

  Flash.

  My chest feels like it explodes, and I drop to my knees. I reach up with my hands and clutch the hole in my chest. Blood runs between my fingers and runs down my stomach. I try to ask her why, but no words come out. Blood builds up in the back of my throat. She stands above me.

  My vision is hazy, but she gets closer. The pain overwhelms my senses, but I can still feel the warm barrel press against my forehead. I close my eyes and wait. Up until a second ago, I had survived three gunshots in my life. I wasn't going to survive this one. Guess the jokes on me.

  I wait.

  I wait.

  Finally, I work up the courage to open them. She is gone, and I fall to my side. More explosions and gunshots ring out around me. How could I have been so naive with her?“I'm afraid they are going to take me back there, Dave. I need protection, Dave.” she said. I'm an idiot. Doesn't matter anymore. God, this pain.

  I struggle to look up and see if anyone is around. A few souls run past me; they are obviously concerned about their own skin. Can't say I blame them. Then I see her; she's coming back to finish me. My hand leaves the hole in my chest and goes to my back.

  My knife. I won't let her get away. I bet she is the one who who blew the gas reserves. She ruined everything I made with Ryan these past few years. She gets closer and starts to come into focus. Oddly the gun is missing. She has a bow and arrow. She gets closer and closer.

  Just as she kneels down I thrust the blade forward towards her neck.

  She easily blocks the knife and pins my arm.

  “David, what the hell are you doing?” Sara yells.

  No, that's not Sara. Caitlyn.

  I concentrate on speaking. She has to know - even if it is the last thing I do. I spit the blood building in my mouth.

  “Sara... she... shot me.” Caitlyn instantly moves backwards.

  “What? She shot you? Why?” rushes out of her mouth.

  I simply can nod my head. My vision fades out. When it comes back she is gone. The pain takes over, and everything starts to become dark.

  I can't die yet. Not like this.

  Chapter 29: Caitlyn

  My legs carry me as fast as they will go. I know where she is headed – towards them. I'm not going to lose her. I have to talk sense into her.

  I push past people trying to dodge the gunfire on their way toward the school. I am the only fool going the other way. I need to find her.

  Slam.

  My body runs into someone, and I nearly fall to the ground. For a second, I run right past her, and then I see that it is Paige.

  “Where they hell are you going? You can't stop them alone.”

  “Sara's headed that way.” my words fly out of my mouth in near screams. “She wants them to find her. She shot David.”

  “Is he...?”

  “I don't know. I think he's...”

  “Okay, I'm coming with you.” I have little time to argue, and we both run between houses and head for the main street. Fewer and fewer people run past us in the other direction as we walk across a driveway on a side street. Where did she go?

  “There!” Paige yells. Thirty yards away Sara rushes into a backyard of a yellow brick house. The one beside it is on fire and illuminates the surrounding grassy area. Paige runs ahead of me and into the back yard. She rounds the corner a few seconds before I do.

  “Paige wait...” I begin while turning the corner, Paige has frozen. In front of her is Sara, her blue dress flaps slowly in the wind. Her outstretched hand points the gun at Paige. I quickly bring up my bow.

  And point it at my twin sister.

  “Sara, what the hell are you doing?”

  “Just leave me alone.”

  “We aren't letting you go.” Paige adds slowly lowering her hands. “We want you here.”

  “Shut up. I don't even know you,” Sara yells. I take a step closer to Sara, an arrow still taut, but now pointing away from her.

  “Sara, I have spent the last five years looking for you. Why are you leaving me?”

  “I was happy back at the capital. I fell in love. I had a family.”

  “You're wrong. They kidnapped you. He does not love you!”

  “He does. He's says he'll be my husband one day.”

  “It's not what you think...” I begin.

  “He doesn't know yet, but I'm having his child.”

  My heart stops for a second. I struggle to find the right words. Her free hand moves to her stomach. If she is pregnant, I certainly can't tell.

  “Come with us. Let us raise it. We can do it together.” I force out a small smile.

  “You're going to be nothing. For years, I thought maybe you were still alive, and I waited for you to find me but you never came. I moved on. I thought maybe it would change when you found me, but it didn't. I don't give a damn about you, or Jocelyn, or Carter anymore. None of you matter; my chapter with each of you closed five years ago. I have a real family. A real life and you pulled me from it. If I have to, I will shoot her. Or you.” She moves the gun briefly over to me.

  I pull the bow back tighter and aim at her.

  “I can't let you leave.” I beg of her. Tears are building in the corners of my eyes.”

  Paige joins in. “You shot David. You are staying-”

  My eardrums nearly explode as a spent casing flies from Sara's gun. I see Paige dropping to the ground, her white blouse already turning red as she falls to her knees and then to the grass. My finger tips already have released the string. I immediately wish I could recall it, but it's too late.

  The arrow plunges deep into Sara's chest. I drop the bow and sprint toward her. I am already beside her by the time her body touches the ground. Her gun silently falls to the grass, and I grip her empty hand. She gazes forward blankly. My sister may already be dead.

  "Sara... how could you?" My whisper changes to a scream. "Why did you make me kill you?" Her child...

  This... this can't be real... it can't be...

  Her eyes turn and focus on my own. She struggles a few breaths. Sara's lips move, but nothing comes out. I want an explanation. Something. Please. None of this makes sense. I thought we were okay yesterday. Was it all an act? It couldn't have been. God no, it couldn't have been. I feel the tears running down my face and into my mouth. The right words escape me, and I simply bawl as I pull her light body into my own. Every moment of the past five years has been about finding her.

  Keeping her safe.

  The quiet sounds exiting her mouth cease. I feel her muscles release, and she is gone.

  I killed her.

  My mouth shakes and I wail. What... how could everything have come to this?

  My sister. Sara. I killed her. The rest of the world doesn't matter anymore. I hold her as if it will bring her back to me. Please... I need you.

  * * *

  At some point, a few of Ryan's men found the three of us and brought Paige and me into the school. I sit alone against a wall on the side of the room. I stare blankly at the ground. Nothing matters anymore.

  Sara.

  The gunshots outside fade and I hear some men saying that they managed to drive them back. I don't care. I kept hoping a stray bullet would find a home deep in my brain.

  I am not that lucky.

  After what may have been hours, Carter comes over and picks me up. I don't fight him. I wrap my arm around his neck as he carries me onto one of the cots. He sets me down and pulls a blanket over me. He stands above me with a blank stare. His face looks flushed. I finally manage a few words.

&nb
sp; “Paige? Is she...?”

  “She lost a lot of blood. We were able to get the bullet out and stop the bleeding, but her pulse is faint. I wanted to check on you.”

  “I'll be alright...” I begin in a mumble.

  Sara...

  Carter moves in close to my head, and runs his hand through my hair.

  “You’re my family. Considering the pain I feel, yours must be unimaginable. It's okay to need help.” He inhales as if to continue, but exhales slowly through his nose. Carter seems to be at a loss for words. “We are in the medical part if you need anything. Kevin was put in charge around here so ask him if you need anything.”

  He stands in front of me. I finally notice all of the blood covering the front of his shirt. Paige's blood...

  He walks slowly out of the gymnasium, passing several dozen people lying on on cots and blindly walking around. He is soon lost in the crowd. I lie back down and stare at the ceiling.

  I fall asleep faster than I thought.

  And I dream about dogs made out of snow.

  Chapter 30: Jocelyn

  The morning sun shatters the horror of the night. Things are worse than we imagined. I walk between the rows of houses and come face to face with the dead bodies of dozens of men, women, and the occasional child. What the hell had happened here this morning? I run to the stables where the horses were held... where I took Angel back to yesterday with Paige. The stable isn't anywhere near the flames and still stands strong. Glancing into her stall from the window, I nearly scream when I see the two on the floor among the hay. Each has a single hole in the head. Tears slowly run down my cheeks as my hands cover my mouth. Among all the bodies, I feel guilty crying over a horse.

  Wiping the tears aside, I continue further into the neighborhood. There will be plenty of time to cry later. Someone still may be hurt out here in this war-zone. Some buildings are still burning away and others are blackened skeletons of framework. They must have set more fires as their forces moved inward.