“I’m eighteen. I make my own decisions.”
Mason looked at Tanara with one brow raised and the corner of his mouth turned up as he shrugged his shoulders, “What can you do? She’s right. Laws have gone bye-bye, and even if we had them, she’s eighteen.”
“Then I’m going, too,” Tanara said.
“I’m not staying here alone,” Shemika added.
Mason’s head was bouncing back and forth as the women took turns expressing themselves. “You do realize there’s only two weapons between the four of us, right?”
“Are we gonna do this or not?” Tynice asked.
“I like her,” Mason added. “As long as you don’t get us into any situations,” he said, looking back at Tynice.
“Don’t worry about me.”
Mason hid the motorcycle and stood up, maintaining a low profile as he began making his way from cover to cover towards the old Scrounger camp. Although he believed the Ravagers couldn’t see him, he still had the Scrounger threat to deal with. If any of them were still occupying the area, they could spot them and possibly sound an alert to others.
Caution was paramount as they moved across the street and onto the sidewalks. A few hundred feet in and they had not yet seen any Ravagers. The streets were dead silent, and even the ash had been mostly blown away since his last visit, making it difficult to spot where any recent footprints might have been. The flip side of this was that they could more easily make a getaway should somebody begin tracking them.
Mason stopped the group and signaled for them to move against the wall. He heard something coming from around the corner of the old building. He peeked his head around the edge of the corner and saw two Ravagers standing in the alley. He looked back at the women and signaled to them that he saw two of them standing around the corner. He motioned for them to continue following him as he skipped the alley and moved on to the edge of the next building.
There was a road on the side of this shop, but down from there was the old Scrounger camp. The road was filled with Ravagers. There was a third option that Mason had to consider, and that was backtracking some distance and to approach from the other side, but that way posed the problem of time, which was precious to Mason.
He whispered to them, “I highly recommend you stay here while I go grab some weapons and gear. If you tag along, I’m going to ask that you at least close your eyes and let me lead you. I can fill some backpacks with gear for you and put them on your backs. We can carry more out like that.”
Mason made up his mind to take the street access. That wouldn’t choke them into a narrow kill zone and would offer them a great variety for escape options. He began moving forward again and took a turn around the corner. Shemika was gripping Mason’s hand tightly as she kept her eyes closed and focused on that deserted island. Tynice chose to leave her eyes open, and Tanara chose to close her eyes. The group was all holding hands as Mason led them into the horde of Ravagers.
As the group plunged themselves deeper and deeper into the thralls of flesh-eating undead, the smell of rotting human carcasses became more pronounced. Shemika focused on her place, and Tynice was performing considerably well. Her eyes were wide open, and she was amazed and empowered by the thought of being invisible to the Ravagers. She was focused on nothing more than landing a weapon of her own. The thought of Mason teaching her to shoot a gun was exciting to her. Soon, she would be able to shoot Scroungers and Ravagers. For Tynice, that was her happy place.
Tanara was having a difficult time dealing with the odor. Mason was doing a good job of leading them through the widest openings between the Ravagers, but suddenly one moved and began walking. When it did, Tanara bumped into it and the Ravager’s teeth chattered. The sound frightened Tanara. That fear caused a sensation in her brain that signaled her hypothalamus to dump hormones into her bloodstream. When that happened, cortisol and fatty cells were released and turned into glucose for muscle fuel. All of this happened in a second’s time span.
The Ravager let out a scream, which startled Mason, Shemika, and Tynice. The street was filled with the smell of human hormones. The rest of the Ravagers let out screams, and each of them gave chase to the four of them.
Mason had no time to give instructions, he simply pulled on Shemika, who opened her eyes and ran as fast as she could. Mason was headed for the open door to a public restroom that was on the side of the building.
Tanara was close behind. She stopped at the edge of the door, looking back to urge her little sister in, but she was in the grips of certain death, screaming and reaching for Tanara as four Ravagers sank their teeth into her flesh. Tanara attempted to head back out, but Mason grabbed her by the arm, yelling at her as he did, but she didn’t hear his words. Only a mumbled sound as she watched her little sister shrink into a growing pile of Ravagers. Mason slammed the door shut when he saw several more running at him, and locked the bolt.
Tanara was screaming at Mason, “We have to save her. We can’t leave her to die,” as the screaming Ravagers slammed into the door.
Mason knew Tynice was already dead. Running back out to attempt a futile rescue would risk even more lives. All he could do was pull Tanara in tight to his chest as she cried and pounded him with her fists. Shemika watched in horror as Tanara tried to convince him that Tynice needed saving. Her heart was breaking at Tanara’s agony, and all she could think about was the sight of Tynice disappearing beneath the horde of Ravagers.
Nightfall just outside Haven
Bright red flares shot high into the air over Haven. The normally dark sky became a bright red color as simultaneous sniper shots dropped the tower guards. These bright red flares also signaled several other men working for the Order to run tall ladders into place, and hundreds more were standing by waiting for them to be erected. Once they were, a small army of men and women ran up them, the first of which tied ropes off at the highest rung so that everybody could climb down into Haven.
A few ground rovers fired off some shots, but were killed in theprocess by overwhelming firepower. The entire thing was going pretty smoothly according to Romeo’s number one, Markus Cruz, who was approaching Romeo’s position.
Romeo was sitting in the passenger seat of a truck, with the preacher sitting behind the wheel. Getting into the vehicle while being shackled to Romeo was clumsy at best, but it gave Romeo assurances that the man wouldn’t try to make a run for it.
Markus was responsible for all the logistics and strategic analysis for these types of operations. He had yet to fail Romeo, but now he had to tell his leader that there was a problem with the strategy. Once they were over the wall, there was no way to penetrate the inner facilities. The tower guards were not carrying keys to the access points. He also told Romeo that they had gained control of the gardens and wells, but any food caches were well tucked away inside the buildings, which they couldn’t gain access to.
“Find somebody that’s willing to compromise and make them promises and deals they’d be a fool to turn down. Earn their trust, Markus. We’ll siege this place until they’re willing to work for us.”
“I’ll do what I can,” Markus replied and walked off.
“All of this for a few morsels of vegetables you didn’t grow and a drink of water from a well that you didn’t dig,” the preacher said to Romeo.
“All of this to survive, preacher. Your God takes care of you, and I take care of my people. That’s how it works.”
“You’re misguided to compare yourself to a sovereign God who gives life and takes it away.”
“There’s little difference, preacher. I take it and I give it. Isn’t that what you just said your sovereign God does?”
“There’s one big difference,” the preacher said, looking at Romeo. “You’re not God, and sooner, rather than later, you’re going to meet Him.”
Romeo grabbed the man by the cheeks and said, “Are you threatening me, preacher?”
“No. I wouldn’t lay a finger on you. The word says ‘Thou shalt not kill,’
but it’s not me you need to worry about.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The Lord gave me a vision and I’ve seen your end.”
“What is it? How do I die?”
The preacher did not give him a direct answer, but instead chose to draw on a verse from the Bible. “He that soweth to his flesh shall reap corruption.”
“Quit toying with me, preacher. You’re a fool if you think I won’t kill you. We got by just fine before you strolled along.”
Romeo released the preacher’s face.
The preacher kept looking at Romeo as he said, “This endeavor to reap what you have not sown will be your undoing. When you see the man without faith and fear, you can rest knowing that the black curtains of your life will soon draw to a close.”
Romeo called out to a nearby minion and said, “Go find Markus and tell him to open the gate.”
“Right away,” the man said, then ran off toward the prison.
Romeo’s truck sat parked several yards away from the prison walls. He was sitting there several minutes, waiting for the east gate to open, when he heard a wail coming from behind his truck. Romeo turned around to look over his shoulder. Several men began shooting their guns and yelling, none of which could be understood from where he was.
“It has begun,” the preacher said.
Romeo, believing that he was referring to the vision of the man without faith and fear killing him, started his truck and headed for the gate. He opened his door and began pulling the preacher toward him as if trying to yank him out the passenger-side door. The preacher grabbed his walking stick and scooted along the bucket seating until he reached the passenger side and stepped out with Romeo, who had already begun running. The preacher grabbed the chain that was also affixed to Romeo and pulled back on it, resisting Romeo’s attempt at rushing to the gate.
“Do you want to live?” the preacher asked.
“What kind of question is that?”
“If you do, then I suggest you do exactly as I tell you.”
“I’m listening.”
“The Screamers are feeding on your men. That means they’re preoccupied. When the hearts of the living stop beating, they will move on to the next man. We will walk at a slow pace and take our time getting to the gate.”
Romeo did as the preacher instructed and slowly walked toward the gate. All along the way, the sounds of dying men could be heard through the night sky.
The Screamers would feast until the heart of the person they were feeding on stopped beating; then they’d move on to the next person. Everything transpired exactly as the preacher had predicted.
When they arrived at the front gate, there was already a crowd of the Order’s people gathered. All of them were screaming to be let in. Behind Romeo, the screeching sounds of the Screamers were getting closer. Members of the Order were getting picked off one by one as they waited for the east gate to open.
When the preacher realized it wasn’t going to be opened in time, he turned to see where the Screamers were located in respect to his location. It was dark, but he counted at least thirty of them. Realizing they were all going to die if he didn’t act, he picked up a large sandstone and knocked out Romeo and as many of the others as he could, four in all.
Hours later
A hundred Screamers were now walking around the perimeter of Haven. Every member of the Order that had not safely crossed over the exterior wall had been turned save Romeo and the four others the preacher had knocked unconscious.
The preacher was standing alone at the front of the gate, waiting for the men on the inside to open it. Every time they had gotten close enough to the gate to open it, they would stir the Screamers into a frenzy, making it impossible to get Romeo, the preacher, and the others inside.
Finally, the preacher, growing impatient, yelled up to the tower, “Throw me some bolt cutters so I can get these infernal shackles off my ankle. Then, and only then, will we be able to save Romeo.”
“If we set you free, the Screamers will kill Romeo.”
“If you don’t set me free, the Screamers will kill Romeo and all these others. I can save him, but yes, it will cost my escape. The choice is yours.”
The guard disappeared from atop the wall. A few minutes later, a set of bolt cutters were dropped down to the preacher. He cut the chain that tethered him to Romeo and walked around to one of the ladders that the men had pushed over, fearing the Screamers would climb it to get in. He lifted the ladder and climbed over the wall.
Hundreds were safe inside the wall, and all of them were staring at the preacher like they had seen a ghost.
“It’s a miracle,” one of them shouted.
The preacher ignored the comment and proceeded to the east gate. One of the men at the wall pointed his rifle at him and said, “Don’t even think about it, preacher.”
Markus walked up to the preacher and stared at him. “How do you do it?”
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” he recited as he grabbed the gate wheel and began cranking it open.
“Let him be,” Markus told the tower guard, who was hiding behind the wall.
The preacher stepped out of the gate and grabbed Romeo by the arm, pulling him to safety. After that, he did the same for the others then stepped outside one last time.
“How many more are there?” Markus asked.
“That’s the last of them. I suggest you close the gate.”
Markus stepped into view of the Screamers and ignited a response from the horde that sounded unlike anything he had ever heard in his life, or would ever hear again. Hundreds of them began screaming and started their charge for the east gate. Markus ran for the gate wheel and turned it as fast as he could, barely closing it in time.
Entry Seven
Mason, Shemika, and Tanara were safely secluded in the public restroom. Both Shemika and Mason had tried consoling Tanara, but she wouldn’t have it. She seemed to only be harboring ill will towards them and was seemingly disconnected. She had spent the better part of two hours screaming and crying over the loss of her sister, Tynice.
She was having a difficult time getting the image of Tynice being eaten by the undead out of her mind long enough to sleep. Mason and Shemika were worried about falling asleep and leaving Tanara awake to leave. It seemed like every time they began to doze off, she began crying again.
The door hadn’t been opened since their arrival. Mason insisted on keeping it secured until the morning when they could at least see the environment. Mason and Shemika didn’t have to talk it out, but the way they looked at one another was enough for each of them to understand the plan. Mason took first watch and Shemika was to follow.
Mason took his journal out and began to write in pitch blackness.
...
“Dearest Lydia, two of the most difficult things in life are making sacrifices and tough decisions. They are kind of akin to one another, but I’ve come to know there is a stark difference. Sometimes sacrifices come inadvertently, and sometimes tough decisions are forced upon us. At other times we choose to make tough decisions and to sacrifice. Giving something up of personal value for another is a difficult thing.
“While I was searching for Shemika (again), I found two women that needed help: Tanara and Tynice. Tanara was Tynice’s older sister and she loved Tynice very much. At first, she was willing to sacrifice herself to save Tynice, but in the end, Tynice inadvertently sacrificed herself to save Tanara. It was a sad and unexpected turn of events. Tynice was the brave one, but that didn’t save her. It wasn’t enough to ward off the Ravagers.
“Turns out, Tanara used to be a nurse and worked with some doctors that knew a lot about stuff I’ll probably never understand, but it seems the Ravagers are attracted to something released by the human body. Something having to do with adrenaline. They’re not attracted to noise or movement or lights, but to fear. The strange thing about fear is that once you think you have it under
your control, you quickly find out that you don’t.
“Last night I was leading the ladies to safety. Once I learned that I didn’t need to be afraid of the Ravagers because they couldn’t see me if I was calm, I was able to stand right next to them. It was amazing. I used that skill last night to escort Shemika, Tanara, and Tynice through a group of Ravagers. But Tanara became frightened at a sound, and the rest of us became frightened at Tanara. That set off all the Ravagers. Tynice, the brave one, was caught, and there was nothing we could do about it. Even I was affected by the manner in which she was killed. If I hadn’t pulled Tanara into this room, we’d all be dead now, me and Tanara at least.
“Now, I sit here in the dark wondering if I could have saved her. I have to live with that now, wondering if I could have made a difference. I’ll never know, and I think that’s going to linger for a while.
“I’m hoping that Shemika lives through this. She’s an amazing woman, Lydia. I think you’d like her. I know I do. I think I like her a lot. I haven’t looked at a woman the way I look at her since your mom left us. I’ve been turned off by the thought of being hurt again, but Shemika could change all that.
“PS, I wrote all of that in the dark by touch alone, so I hope it’s readable. I love you.”
...
Mason closed his journal and laid it on the floor by his side. He sat quietly in the darkness and listened to Tanara cry until she fell asleep. He thought about dozing off at that point, but if something happened to her while he slept, he wouldn’t be able to live with it. He liked Tanara. She seemed like a woman willing to do anything for family. The death of Tynice was as painful to her as anything could have been. If he knew nothing else about Tanara, he at least knew she was capable of great love.
Minutes turned into hours, and Mason heard Shemika stirring. He would have carried on with watch the whole night and into the morning had she slept soundly. It was her turn for watch, so the moment she stirred, he gently touched her shoulder and asked, “Are you still up for watch? If you are, it’s time.”
No Light Beyond Page 9
