by Jack Hunt
“It’s worth a shot.”
“You said you came down here because of friends. Where are they?”
“Dead. Gone. I don’t know. Calvin was the only one still here.”
“And how did you two meet?”
He was grilling them. Gary could tell he didn’t trust them.
“We went to college together.”
Calvin looked at him.
“Yeah? So you’re a cop?”
“No, I didn’t complete the academy. Injured my knee,” he replied.
“Is that so?” Roger asked.
He nodded. It was like a game of mental tennis. Gary tried to divert the conversation away from them. “So what about you, Roger? You got any friends in the area?”
“Some.”
“How come you haven’t joined up with them?”
“Don’t need ’em. Got my boys.”
Gary might have felt a smidgen of guilt if it wasn’t for the memory of that asshole’s face after he stuck a gun against his cheek. Silence stretched between them and Roger kept walking back and forth to the window looking out. Gary wanted to get some shut-eye but there was no telling what he was going to do next. That was when Calvin chimed in.
“Why don’t you and your boys come with us to the FEMA camp? I don’t have any credentials like Gary here but there is a chance we might get in because of our association with him.”
He laughed as if he knew something they didn’t.
“It’s a waste of time. They aren’t in any better condition than us.”
“How do you know?”
“Look around you. Do you see grocery stores in operation? Do you know of any factory workers making food? Do you honestly think they are going to waste precious resources on hundreds of people?”
“You’d be surprised what humanity will do to survive,” Gary replied, thinking back to their time in Lake Placid and the two camps they’d come across in Texas so far. The one thing people wanted more than food and water was a sense of belonging. No one wanted to be alone and with so many that had already died that need for companionship was even stronger.
Chapter 16
The office felt cramped and stuffy. There was a fan in the corner of the room that he could switch on, but Shelby wouldn’t allow any devices that required electricity to be used without his permission. His desire to control was reaching new heights and Samuel could already tell his power over others had gone to his head. It was the same in all facets of life. A lot could be determined about a man when he was given responsibility. There were few that could handle it. Who could? Having people willingly be told what to do, where to go and how to live stroked the ego. It didn’t matter how good they were. That’s why so many kings, presidents, leaders, and CEOs of companies fell.
The door opened and Shelby ambled in followed by his brother John.
“Samuel,” he said, “I believe you know my brother.”
John glared at him, a look of death in his eyes. Samuel shifted in his seat feeling uncomfortable. He tried not to let on that he was nervous. “Learned his lesson, has he?”
John balled his fists and Shelby raised a hand. “Let’s not start a fight. We have bigger things to discuss today.” He walked around his desk and took a seat, reached into a drawer to the left and pulled out a map of the area. He unfolded it and then taking a few tacks attached it to the wall.
“What’s going on?” Samuel asked. He’d got word that something big was happening. Rumors has spread that they were readying for an attack — he just didn’t know who was behind it. Shelby took out a black marker pen and circled the area that referenced the location of the compound. He then circled a wider area in the northeast region.
“You remember those people we recently brought in?” Frank asked.
“Yeah.”
“Well they weren’t alone. A man by the name of Elliot has shown up with news about the killing of our men. He says he can lead us to the location of Mack Larson.”
“Mack who?” Samuel asked.
“It’s a long story. He was an old friend of ours.” He turned to John. “Wasn’t he?”
“He was different back then,” John added glancing at Samuel.
“All you need to know is that we are going to handle it. As we speak my men are prepping everyone to be ready to go to war against their group.”
Samuel raised a hand. “Hang on a minute. War? What are you on about?”
Shelby turned and took a seat. He answered him while he glanced at the map, one hand scratching his chin. “You remember that group that tried to attack us a week ago?”
“Yeah.”
“Well there is another group and unless we attack them first, they are going to keep picking off my men.”
“So why are you telling me this?”
“Samuel, you have earned my trust. You have proven yourself and demonstrated to the rest of New Hope Springs residents that good things come to those who do what is asked of them without question. You’re an example. I need you to speak to those who were originally here. The others we can handle. They’re new, they already see me as an authority figure who gives them what they need but your group…” He shook his head. “There is still some deep animosity towards me. Given enough time I think I could change it but we don’t have that luxury. Now I can’t change that but you can. They will follow you.”
“You want me to get them to fight for you?”
“No, not for me, for you. I want you to tell them that if they wish to remain here and enjoy the benefits of shelter, protection and sustenance, they are going to have to step up and stand with you. Now I was hoping to ease people into this kind of thing over the course of months but we don’t have that kind of time. So it’s up to you. Do this and I will remove your brother from shit duty and restore his privileges.”
Shelby leaned back in his chair observing him. Samuel’s eyes bounced between them.
“I can’t guarantee they’ll listen.”
“No but if it’s coming from you and if you tell them that everyone will see an increase in food portions, and be given less work, there is a good chance they’ll bite.”
“Less work? And what are you telling the others?”
“The same.”
Samuel scoffed. “You want me to lie to them?”
“I want you to convince them.”
“By lying to them,” Samuel said.
“I don’t look at it like that. I like to think of it as motivation, or better still, they are earning their keep.”
“And you don’t think they already have through the work they do every day?”
Shelby leaned across the table clasping his hands together. “Before the lights went out, Samuel. Did anyone give you anything for free? Could you walk into a hotel and ask for a free bed? Could you walk into a restaurant and get a free meal? Everything comes with a price tag attached. It’s called business. And things have not changed. We need to take care of business.”
Samuel shook his head in disbelief.
“Why not just stay inside the walls? Isn’t that what this place was built for? It’s meant to protect us from outside attacks. Why risk more lives?”
“Because I can assure you, the man we are dealing with will not stop until he has killed every single person in here.”
“But these people are innocent.”
“I know that but he won’t see it that way.”
Samuel bit down on his bottom lip. “What did you do to him?”
“That’s neither here nor there. Will you do it? That’s all I want to know.”
Samuels’s shoulders sank and he looked down into his lap. “I will speak to them but like I said, I can’t guarantee anything. If they don’t wish to fight, what will you do?”
“Nothing. They will remain here and protect the compound.”
“So you’re going out?”
“Me? No.”
“But you were involved when you took this compound. How’s this any different?”
“We hav
e more hands now. No point jeopardizing our lives when we have an army out there that will gladly walk into the flames.” He breathed in deeply. “You see, as much as I want to believe this Elliot fellow, I would be a fool to think that this is not some kind of trap thought up by Mack, right?”
Samuel nodded. “And yet you would want our group to risk their lives?”
“Like I said, there is a cost to living in this compound and if they’re not onboard, well, I’m sure there are others that would gladly take their place. Do I make myself clear?” Shelby asked.
Samuel nodded. “Oh it’s clear but I think you’ve forgotten one little thing.”
“And what’s that?”
“You want to put weapons in the hands of people you don’t trust.”
Shelby got up from his desk and clasped his hands behind his back and paced the full length of the room. “Samuel. Do you think I have overlooked that?” He tossed him a sideways glance. “They won’t get weapons until they are outside, they won’t get back until they have no weapons. Believe me. I have it covered.”
Samuel had a sense that Shelby wasn’t just speaking about his group, but referring to him specifically.
“And if they try to escape?” John added. He raised another point that Samuel wasn’t going to mention as he already had that in mind. Shelby closed his eyes and dropped his head back as if he was sniffing the air. A smile lingered on his face. “Deserters will be shot.” His eyelids snapped open. “Like I said. I have it covered.”
“Can you afford to lose people?” Samuel asked.
“It’s not a question of whether I can afford to lose people, it’s a question of whether they are willing to die.” He let his words hang. “Now, enough questions. Your job is to sell it to them. Now go sell it.”
Samuel nodded. “I’ll speak to them.”
“Good man.” He reached into his drawer and pulled out the box of expensive cigars and gave him a handful. That was how he operated. Subtle manipulation sandwiched between gestures of kindness. That was how all lunatics operated.
Samuel stood under the lights before the large crowd that had gathered on the northeast side of the compound. Darkness was upon them and a generator could be heard churning away providing power for lighting all over the compound. Shelby had been adamant that he wanted them out of earshot of the refugees. His brother was among the crowd, as were the newcomers. Ryan had taken them under his wing and shown them the ropes. He’d told them about Elliot, and there was an expression of both relief and shock. After he brought them up to speed on what Shelby wanted, he got a mixed response back.
“Settle down. One at a time.”
Spencer Dean spoke up, “This is perfect. This is our chance to take this place back.” He laughed. “I can’t believe he’s actually going to put weapons in our hands.”
Samuel immediately shook his head. “No. No, it’s not the time.”
With that said there was uproar. “Why not?” the people demanded to know.
“You’re not dealing with a stupid individual. Do you really think he hasn’t thought of that? He’s already warned me that if you try to use the weapons for anything but what you are required to do, he will have you killed.”
“And how will he know? When people are shooting, friendly fire happens all the time? ‘It wasn’t my gun.’”
“Wasn’t my gun either,” someone else added before smiling.
“Trust me. It’s not happening.”
“Why?”
“Because his men are staying here at the compound. You’d only be shooting innocent people. Did you think he would risk their lives?”
A look of confusion was replaced by shock. “So he wants to send us out like lambs to the slaughter?”
“It’s the cost of living here.”
“Bullshit. Then you can go tell him where to stick it,” an older man said turning through the crowd and elbowing his way out. “I’m not fighting for him. I would rather take less rations.”
“Then you will die.”
He stopped walking and looked back. Samuel stepped down from the overturned box and walked among the crowd. He knew each of them well. They were more than friends, they had become family since the EMP. Many of them knew each other long before that. Some were preppers, others concerned citizens and the rest just lucky to have a family member who had secured a spot.
The man looked back at him. “What?”
“You’ll be replaced and you know what that means.” Samuel ran a hand around his neck. “That’s why now is not the time to show resistance.”
“Then when is?” Jenner Rothman asked.
“We are working on it.”
“Right. Like your brother was working on taking out his crew from the inside. How did that work out? No, I say this is our time. As soon as they place a gun in my hand I’m taking that asshole out.”
Samuel stabbed his finger towards the earth “You’re not listening! You won’t be given a gun until you are outside these walls,” Samuel said. “They will be inside. How do you expect to kill them?”
“When we return.”
“You’ll be required to lay them down.”
“Then we flee,” a woman said.
“And you will be shot.”
A crowd of blank faces looked back at him.
“Like I said, he’s thought of everything.”
“I’ll take the risk,” Jenner said.
“Yeah, and if you escape where will you go?”
“We’ll join this other group. If they are against them they’ll open their doors to us.”
“They won’t trust you.”
“Then we’ll find another group.”
Samuel shook his head. “You still don’t get it, do you? He’s already thought through every scenario. That’s why you’re going with the other refugees. People who want to be here! People who willingly walked in here and will do whatever they can to earn their way into greater benefits. Believe me, if you don’t do what he asks, you will die.”
“You’re starting to sound a lot like him, Samuel. Are you even for us anymore? Or have you lost your way?”
Ryan stepped forward to support him. “My brother wants what is best for all of you. He has risked his life for you all. The only reason you aren’t starving is because of him. So show a little respect.” He glared at them. “I know you want out. We all do. But these things take time. Those who go against Shelby are punished or go missing. And we all know what that means.”
“I’m not listening to this. You want us to go out and risk our lives for him. Fuck that. I would rather die,” Spencer said.
“Then you will,” Samuel added.
The tension could have been cut with a knife. They crowd talked among themselves. Some walked away believing that Shelby wouldn’t kill them because he needed them. That was a mistake. With the new influx of people he could be more picky. That’s why people were going missing. He was beginning to prune them like a plant — removing all the dead weights, the ones not contributing, those who were troublemakers. He would do the same with anyone who refused to do his bidding.
“Surely there is another option?” Jenner asked.
“Right now, no, but like I said we have an idea,” Ryan said turning to Harlan who hadn’t said a word since they’d arrived. Their fearless leader now cowered like a scared rat. “Harlan, when you had this place built you must have created an escape route?”
“Escape route?” The crowd raised their voices and Ryan told them to keep it down. It wasn’t like anyone was going to hear them because the compound was vast but he had no way of knowing if Shelby had sent someone to listen in. He wouldn’t have put it past him.
“There isn’t one,” Harlan replied before taking a few steps back, trying to melt into the crowd. That obviously wasn’t the response Damon wanted as he grabbed a hold of him and pulled him out.
“Listen up, asshole. No one creates a place like this without an escape route. I’ve seen small underground bunkers with escape hat
ches. It’s safety 101. So don’t fucking lie. These people might have patience with you but I don’t. Now where is it?”
His eyes bounced to Ryan and Samuel as if they might step in and pull Damon back but they weren’t going to do that. They wanted answers. Everyone did.
“Where is it?” Damon bellowed raising his fist.
He blurted it out. “The hatch is located in the phase three bunkers.”
Damon pulled him in tight. “Old man, you’re going to need to be a little more specific!”
Harlan went red in the face. “My office.”
“What?” Samuel said.
“It’s in my office,” he repeated.
Samuel stepped forward. “That’s why you wouldn’t admit it. You never told anyone who purchased a bunker because that escape route was for you only, wasn’t it?”
Ryan stared at him for a few seconds and then the penny dropped. “You bastard. All this time you have had a means of escape and you didn’t tell us?”
“I…” Harlan stumbled over his words.
Damon stepped back as Ryan lunged at Harlan. He slammed him to the ground and threw several jabs at his face. Harlan’s wife came to his aid trying to pull Ryan back. “Please. Leave him alone.”
“Ryan!” Samuel yelled. Ryan had to be pulled back with a little help from Damon.
“Where is it?” Samuel asked.
Harlan sat up and wiped blood from the corner of his lip. He was breathing heavily and trying to catch his breath. “Below the desk.”
Samuel thought back to the office. There was a throw rug on the floor. That had to have covered the entrance.
“Is it locked?”
“No.”
“Where’s it lead out?”
“Beyond the walls, northwest of here.”
He nodded staring at him. “Why haven’t you used it?”
“Why do you think? I can’t get in there anymore, at least not alone.”
But Samuel could. His mind started thinking of what they’d have to deal with in order to get in. There was always a soldier stationed outside the door, and another farther down the corridor. Shelby had them in place because he’d taken some of the best resources they had and stored them in there for his own personal use. He looked out at the faces of everyone. Although there was clear animosity towards Harlan, there was also a sense of hope. But he knew not everyone would be able to use the tunnel, as there were too many of them and they were constantly under the watchful eye of Shelby’s men. And yet he knew to survive this they would have to act fast. Murmurs spread throughout the crowd. Talk of escape was on everyone’s lips.
