by Glen Krisch
Behind Jason and Delaney, Marcus could see Eldon Pointer with his arm around Mandy Miller, consoling her softly as she cried. Her husband, Craig, had been the first casualty in the group, taking a high caliber bullet to the head. Eldon was a good man, and Marcus would need to lean on him for his spiritual guidance if they were going to survive. The idea of the struggle, the fight to exist for another day, and then another after that, again brought a gleeful smile to his lips. Marcus strained to see Austin Collins and Hector Sanchez following single file at the tail end of their group, and then focused his attention to the road ahead, to where he would always have to look from now on.
One less-than-vigilant second. That's all it took to nearly destroy his group only hours into their ascendancy. In that brief flicker of time one of his followers—hopefully one of the newly dead—failed to properly secure the bindings of one of the townsfolk destined to be sacrificed to the surging waters of the unhindered Blackhawk. He should have known things wouldn't unfold without a hiccup; the Arkadium's idealized ritual for ending modern humanity had been nothing more than a crackpot fantasy. There were too many moving parts to try to control during the ceremonial lead-up to the dam explosion and the EMP. All of those years of waiting, all of those years of training in secret, and at the moment of apogee, one of his followers had exhibited the most human of qualities: weakness. Such a waste.
He didn't know which of the townsfolk first slipped free of their bindings, but all it took was one. Once free, that person freed another, and those people freed others until a sizable force was able to climb high enough to survive the flood. And once the waters retreated, an angered, well-armed hoard set off to track down Marcus and his people with the single-minded intention of killing them all. One less-than-vigilant second had transformed his people from the hunters into the hunted.
When they reached the summit of the hill, Marcus stopped to rest and let the others catch up. He leaned against a brick wall surrounding either a country club or wealthy estate. Delaney broke away from Jason and soon joined him. She wrapped her arms around his waist while resting her head against his chest. The closeness, despite the rank sweat dripping from them both, was reassuring and familiar.
"We should push on until this shithole is in the rearview." She slipped her hand under his shirt and raked her fingernails over his stomach muscles. "Tomorrow morning we can find a nice place to camp and get some sleep. When we're ready to move on, it'll be like a fresh start. Like none of that shit ever happened."
Jason joined them and dropped his pack. He practically fell to the ground as he sat next to it. He ran his fingers through his hair and tilted his head back with his eyes closed. His lips were chapped and his pallid face already looked thinner. The struggle to survive had only just begun, and already his brother didn't seem up to the task.
Marcus was truly worried about Jason. If anyone else in the group, including Delaney, couldn't carry their own weight, Marcus would gladly cut them loose. But not Jason; he could never leave him behind.
"We'll have to catch our breath," he said. "We need a second wind. Not everyone is as fit as you."
Delaney looked up at him and smiled. "I've been preparing my mind, body, and spirit. All for you."
Marcus planted a kiss on her forehead. Eldon and Mandy reached the summit of the hill. When he looked for the stragglers, he saw a quickly advancing line of bundled flames closing on them. Torches. They were still being followed. Hunted.
"You better hurry up or you're getting left behind!" Marcus called out.
The closer of the two stragglers, Austin Collins, looked back, saw the marching torch bearers, then picked up his pace.
While he waited for the group to reform, Marcus realized he had to act decisively. He did a mental count of their weapons and ammunition. This was a good defensive position. They could wait in the trees and surprise the townsfolk. Even with their fewer numbers, they could potentially cut them to ribbons and end the threat in a matter of minutes. It made sense, but it didn't feel right. Instinct told him to push on and use their lead to their advantage.
"What are we going to do?" Eldon asked. "They seem quite persistent. I don't think they're going to just let us go. Not after what happened. Not with what we did—"
"What we had to do to guarantee our survival," Marcus corrected. "Always remember that, Brother Abel."
Eldon nodded, stung but appreciative. Austin and Hector reached the group and everyone directed their weary eyes toward Marcus, seeking clarity. Leadership.
As Marcus's hesitation lengthened, Austin said, "What now, boss?"
"There are woods for miles around us," he finally said. He tried to project confidence, to sound like he had an answer for every potentiality. "We need to leave the road and use the woods to our advantage." Everyone hung on his every word, even Jason. The feeling of power sent a mad rush through him. Taking charge was a thrill. A high. Marcus could definitely get used to this. "We'll start by cutting through this property. They'll never suspect us taking that route."
"I don't see a way through," Mandy said softly. They were the first words she'd spoken since Craig's murder. It was a good sign. She was the group's healer, and losing her would endanger them all.
"That's easy. We'll go up and over." Marcus fitted his fingers together to form a stirrup. "Who's first?"
"I'll go." Jason stood, leaving his pack near the base of the wall. They stood inches apart, Jason looking up slightly to meet his eyes.
Again, that murderous glare.
Marcus almost vetoed him, but thought better of it. "Make sure everyone gets over safely. We can't afford a sprained ankle."
"Just get us out of this mess, Marcus. That's all I ask."
"Of course, brother."
Jason stepped into Marcus's waiting hands and then reached as high on the wall as he could. Marcus lifted him until he could shimmy up to sit on the top of the wall. Hector grabbed Jason's pack and called out to him before tossing it high into the air. Jason caught it and then dropped it to the ground on the other side. He then eased himself over and down, landing with a grunt.
"Looks clear," Jason said. "It's an enormous house. I don't see anyone."
"You okay?" Marcus asked.
"Yeah," Jason replied. "Let's just get this over with."
The group passed over the wall without incident, helped from one Grant brother to the other. Last to scale the wall, Marcus tossed his pack and AR-15 to Hector Sanchez, who sat on top of the wall.
"Need a hand?" Hector asked.
"Naw, I'll be right over. Sometimes being six foot four comes in handy."
Hector nodded and jumped down on the other side, leaving Marcus alone. His group already worked with an almost scary efficiency. He'd had his worries before the ceremony at the Black Hawk Dam, but those worries were already diminishing, becoming a relic of the time before Election Day. They were all new people now, and the efficient dynamics of their group would only aid in their survival.
He measured the distance to the wall and then backed up for a running start. Before he started his sprint, he saw the line of torches down the hill, now no more than five minutes behind.
Marcus took off in a sprint. His fatigue forgotten, he leaped high on the wall, his boot connecting midway up the brick face. His kick propelled him higher, and he easily grasped the lip of the wall. He heaved himself up and over, dropping into a lush, professionally landscaped estate. As soon as he landed his people encircled him, expectant, incapable of acting without his firm direction. Hector helped him shoulder his pack and Eldon handed him his weapon. He felt like a man from before Election Day coming home from the office to his waiting slippers and a fresh martini.
"Someone's lit candles in the house." Austin pointed his AR-15 toward the two broad windows in the lower level of the impressive ivy-covered Georgian. Two-story columns stood sentinel on either side of the front doorway. The building was massive, easily five or more bedrooms. He checked for movement inside. One window opened to glimpses
of expensive furnishings in a front sitting room, while curtains obscured the other window.
"Right. I see that." At least a dozen candles lit the inside of the house, but it was still nowhere near as bright as with electric lights.
"At least there aren't any dogs," Eldon said.
Marcus glared at Eldon until the old man lowered his eyes. He wanted to kick himself for not thinking about the possibility of guard dogs before sending his people over the wall en masse. He made a mental note to not let it happen again.
Marcus pushed past Eldon, purposely knocking shoulders with him, and surveyed the front yard. It was a vast carpet of well-manicured lawn, with flowering ornamental trees and gardens skirting the entirety of the wall. He almost laughed out loud when he noticed a gate they hadn't seen from their position on the street side of the wall. If they would've gone another hundred feet up the road and around a bend, they would've come across the metal gate spanning the driveway.
"Hector, go check that gate. See if it's locked."
Without hesitation, Hector took off at a good clip, his weapon level with the ground. Marcus had already mentally moved Hector to the inner circle of his group. He'd proven himself trustworthy and loyal. It was also obvious with how he held his AR-15 and reconnoitered the yard that he'd had some military training.
Marcus advanced toward the far corner of the house and everyone followed him without a word. The driveway snaked across the lawn in a gentle arc. Unlit flood lamps lined the path.
"Let's work our way around the far side of the house, away from the windows." Marcus motioned them forward. After checking the gate, Hector raced over to meet them as they all converged at the corner of the house.
"How does it look?" Marcus asked, keeping an eye on the house for movement.
"The gate for the driveway is locked. It's electrical. When the EMP hit, it must have shorted in the locked position. There's a pedestrian gate with a latch that wasn't locked, so I flipped it to the locked position. Best I could do."
"Good work," Marcus said, and then addressed everyone. "See those bushes along the edge of the woods? That's our goal. Stay low and keep moving."
Dressed in camo and other dark colors, they would all be nearly invisible in the darkness, but they still hunched over as they quickly crossed the driveway and continued to the far side of the property.
"Marcus," Delaney called out in a hushed voice from the center of the group. "I see someone."
Marcus held up his hand and everyone stopped in their tracks. He looked at Delaney and then to where she was pointing. There was a slight form at the edge of the woods. As if startled, the person disappeared into the underbrush.
"Damn it," Marcus muttered and shifted his pack from his shoulders to the ground.
"Let's just stay near the house until we're out back," Jason said. "Whoever that is probably doesn't even know we're here."
"Can't chance it." Marcus headed toward the narrow gap in the woods where the person had disappeared. "Austin, Hector, follow me. The rest of you, hunker down under those side windows."
"What are you going to do?" Jason asked.
"Don't you know that by now, brother? Whatever it takes."
Marcus led Austin and Hector into the darkness, halfway expecting Jason to try to stop him. That would be so like him, but he remained with the others. Maybe his brother was finally realizing the world had changed, and that he would have to change with it. He hoped so. He'd risked so much just by saving Jason. He needed his brother. Not only was he family, but he was also the closest thing he had to a moral compass.
At the head of a narrow game trail, Marcus motioned for them to stop so he could listen for movement. And then he heard it, a single set of footsteps, light strides, no discernible pattern.
"Let's go," Marcus whispered and removed the hunting knife sheathed to his hip. He picked up his pace with Austin and Hector close behind. He soon saw a slim girl standing in a rocky clearing. She was staring up at the sky. When Marcus looked up, he had to pause as well. The sky had become brighter, yellow-tinged.
What the hell?
He was mesmerized for a few seconds before snapping out of it.
First things first…
He raised his knife hand and charged. The girl barely registered his presence by the time he was close enough to touch her, and when he wrapped his arms around her to subdue her, her legs went out from under her, and they both tumbled over. He covered her mouth to silence her screams but she made no sound; he landed with his full weight on her, sending her breath rushing out from her lungs. He rolled off of her, regained his feet, and sheathed his knife.
"I'll do it," Hector said, his knife hand twitching at his side.
"No. She's stunned and no danger to us." He stood over her as she writhed, struggling to breathe. She was a sweet young thing; dirty blonde hair, a skinny build but with curves in the right places. He could think of a dozen fun things to do to her, but right now he couldn't focus on his own desires. No, he was a leader and his people were counting on him. "Stand her up. Let her get some air."
Austin grabbed one of her arms and Hector the other, and together they hoisted her to her feet. As their eyes roamed her body, they both looked like they'd had similar thoughts as Marcus. He would have to do something to keep them in line. Throw them a bone every once in a while. After all, a distracted soldier was no soldier at all.
The girl gripped her belly with both hands even with both men holding her at the elbows. Her eyes rolled back before settling and focusing on Marcus's face. Her breath rasped in her throat.
"Shh… sorry about that, darlin'." He lifted her chin with his index finger until he could look into her eyes. "Didn't mean to knock the wind out of you. I know how that can give a person an awful fright. Give her some room guys. She's not going anywhere. And we're not here to hurt her. Are we?" He looked to each in turn.
"No." Hector released her.
"Of course not," Austin said after a slight hesitation.
"Can you speak yet? I really am sorry about that." Marcus shifted his weight until he was down on one knee in a perverse imitation of a wedding proposal.
The girl shook her head and again rasped as she tried to speak.
"You see," Marcus continued, brushing a lock of blonde hair from her eyes, "we were wandering around out here in the woods and got turned around. When I saw you in the distance, I didn't want to lose sight of you, so I ran. My big clumsy feet must've tangled on a stick or rock and I fell right on top of you."
"Uh…" She waved him away. "'I'm all right."
She gave him a hint of a smile that stirred something dark and hungry in him.
"My name is Marcus. This here is Hector and Austin. We might look scary," he said and leaned over to her ear and whispered, "but that's just because we're scared." He chuckled and her smile brightened.
"My dad is out there. And there's a fire in the distance where that plane crashed. He's a voluntary fireman, so he wanted to see if he could help anyone, but even still…"
"This is no place for a girl alone. How about we get you back to the house?"
"Marcus?" Hector said.
"We could use some water," Marcus said, creating a backstory on the fly. "Once we're topped off, we'll be on our way. We have a family farm out in Cherrington, and we'd like to get there sometime tomorrow."
Even though Hector was some kind of spic and Austin was short and had ginger hair and freckles, Marcus could see the girl bought it. A family farm? The three of them?
She nodded. "I'm…" She cleared her throat and then said with more authority, "I'm Kylie. Let's go."
The girl led the way back down the narrow path to the side yard. Marcus followed at her side with the others trailing. "This is kind of you. The world's gone to shit and you've shown us nothing but kindness, even after I knocked the wind out of you."
"I've seen you around town," she said, throwing him for a loop. "You work for the city, right? Mowing, maintenance, that sort of thing?"
/> "Well, I guess that's what I used to do. Not sure if there's much reason to show up to work on Monday. For all we know the power isn't coming back anytime soon."
"I thought that was you. I remember seeing you down by the Perkins Pharmacy. Lloyd Toussaint, he used to work with my dad when I was little, he got his walker caught in the storm drain and traffic just whipped by like he wasn't even there."
"I remember that." Marcus could picture it as if it were yesterday.
"And you stopped your mower over at Centennial Park and ran across the street to help."
"Wasn't a big deal. I just pictured my old man stuck like that and no one even slowing down."
"What I remember most is once you got his walker free and up on the sidewalk, you flipped someone the bird when he honked his horn at you."
Marcus laughed hard and easy. The girl laughed too, and his mind started whirling through possibilities that would extend their stay beyond refilling their canteens.
"That sounds like Marcus, all right!" Austin added.
"Well, Marcus," she said, "I think helping Mr. Toussaint earned you some cold water."
Kylie stopped in her tracks when she noticed the group of people milling under the windows on the side of the house.
"They're with me," Marcus said, unsure what her reaction would be. "We had trouble in town, and we weren't sure if you were nice people or not."
"Okay…" She hesitated and her guard went up. Once she saw that the group appeared to be fairly innocuous—an old man and woman, a girl not much older than herself, and a haggard-looking guy around thirty, she seemed to relax. "I guess we have water enough to go around."
Chapter 12
1.
When Marcus, Austin, and Hector left to track down whoever had been lurking at the edge of the woods, Jason's plan had been to run in the opposite direction. Just take off. Go! But, for some reason he found it difficult to move from the sheltering copse of bushes next to the sprawling Georgian. He supposed he somehow felt responsible for Eldon and Mandy as they waited for Marcus to return. He didn't really know them, but they'd already been through a lot.
