Clio aimed and shot again, hitting the demonic beast in the chest sending it reeling. Remembering her low photon charge, she properly released the trigger. The creature dropped like a mortal to the ground.
The girl ran and then stopped. What am I doing she thought? Clio remembered her backpack inside the car and reluctantly turned back. After reaching inside the Mercedes, she violently shook the pack, seeing visions of the creature raising from the dead and pouncing on her. She freed it and ran, imagining the monster coming back to life while keeping its dead corpse glued to the corner of her eye. Clio smelled its horrendous stench after passing by and looked back just to make sure, confirming that it wasn’t ever getting up again.
Her arm was bleeding but she was alive. Clio was a good mile away from the scene now. The sun continued its ascent, bringing the sound of afternoon bugs. A fly buzzed by her ear and crickets chirped beyond the tree line. Startled, Clio raised her weapon after hearing movement across the leaves. She watched a family of raccoons scamper out of the forest and cross the road in front of her. Anything would scare her at the moment. A cat on a hot tin roof; the girl was a frightful mess.
It wouldn’t be long before another one came, she knew it - more of those goddamn things were out there. She couldn’t take much more of this. Clio had the strangest thought of wanting to die; if she were dead, then this would all be over at least. Thoughts of her mother and father floated through her mind. Her dad wouldn’t approve of such an idea. She had too much of him in her to go without a fight.
Not necessarily known as a jock or a tough kid. She wasn’t known for being popular either. Clio would hang out with anyone, anyone that was friendly to her at least. She had her small group of girlfriends that lived with her on the RMB; most of which weren’t known as what Clio and her friends referred to as Populars.
Clio spent most of her time reading and drawing. Excessively creative, she would spend hours dreaming and building her imaginary world on paper, or on the computer. Her mother would often worry about her daughter, especially since she spent so much time alone in her room, “doing her art” her mother explained to people. Just as her mother’s concern peaked about her daughter being isolated in her room for far too long, on cue, Clio could be heard laughing hysterically through her bedroom door. The sound warmed her mother’s heart more than anything else in the universe.
It was a beautiful noise.
Clio hadn’t experienced her first kiss yet, but she noticed boys. More and more she was noticing them. She was a beautiful girl, her features mixed with her mother’s Asian descent and her father’s strong Irish and Italian heritage. Suspecting that she was pretty, Clio wasn’t really sure of it; either way, she didn’t concern herself with it too much; not yet anyway. Sadly, now, maybe she’d never have to…
The sun was high overhead and it reminded her of one dreadful thing; it only had one place to go from here, down. It wasn’t a good thought and what she saw in front of her wasn’t a welcomed sight either. The road seemed to end and disappeared through a thick patch of forest. Asphalt was still there, invisible, buried under Frasier Furs and Aralia Spinosa trees, better known as Devil's walking stick. How far would she have to travel through it, how long is it? She wondered, looking at the thick patch of woods.
Break time… Clio pulled out a bottle of water from her rucksack and leaned against a truck. She was flat like all four tires it rested on and her nerves were shot like the bashed out glass. Parched, she needed to take a minute. She drank with the sound of water sloshing in the plastic. Her chugging sounds and a pestering gnat were the only things audible in the sweltering air. Sweat and water mixed in her mouth, tasting salt that was preciously leaking out of her body.
She paused and the world seemed to pause with her. Bugs chirped and the heat rose above the asphalt in hypnotic wavy dance. A foul smell shattered Clio’s peacefulness and then she heard it… “Sssshhhhaaa.”
The truck was the only vehicle within several hundred yards so she jumped in its bed. The five-foot border of truck’s walls were her only protection. Its broken glass and the fact that she didn’t want to be back inside another vehicle prevented her from climbing inside the cab.
The monster came out from the patch of woods that covered the roadway, walking upright. From the sight of it, the others she’d seen must have been youngsters, or not fully grown. This one stood over eight feet tall and effortlessly walked on its hind legs. Dr. Pavlov had created different batches of bloodthirsty monsters, some better and bigger than others. The batch this creature came from was one of his favorites.
The way it looked at her…
The others knew what they were doing when they saw her, but this one was really looking at her. Gazing at her like a person with a mental disorder might – not a hundred percent up to speed, but almost. It was smart, she could tell by how it was observing her and cautiously approaching. Clio’s legs began to buckle and the photon pistol rattled in her hand. She glanced down and eyed the charge indicator. A single light blinked, alerting one shot left, maybe. The monster moved in closer and stopped. Coiling, it hissed and then growled in a deep roar. Clio fired, hitting the super-sized creature in its chest.
A short burst at quarter power but it pierced the monster’s flesh. The creature remained calm. Appearing unfazed, it stood erect and looked down at the damage on its chest. It looked up at her and she knew this was the end. Clio felt warm urine leak down her legs, and watched it coil again, smelling her own piss. The beast kept a bead on her and remained tense, seething energy. Thoughts of her mother and father ran through her head. Clio’s twelve years flashed before her eyes. Like it was shot from a, cannon, the monster sprang with murderous rage and launched forward.
Clio heard loud fireworks and jumped down, lying flat on the truck’s bed. “Wham!” The creature slammed into the side of the vehicle, rocking it back and forth. She screamed in a deafening shrill. Crows flew from the trees in a flutter, blotting the sky.
She couldn’t look up. Clio smelled the rusted metal pressed against her face and couldn’t move. More fireworks cracked amidst her fear and confusion. Her eyes were closed and Clio was dreaming of a 4th of July she experienced with her family by a lake. She could smell the celebration as smoke drifted over the truck. The dream was gone and the quiet was slowly being penetrated by the sounds of it moving. It’s alive… this is it.
CHAPTER 13 - DARKNESS SEETHING
“We shall not capitulate... no never. We may be destroyed, but if we are, we shall drag a world with us... a world in flames.”
- Adolph Hitler
Jekyll Island, GA:
Dr. Pavlov knew there were still places that had some oomph left. The other side of the continental U.S. still had a fighting force that could pose a threat. The Marines were tough and RMB Pendleton was a fortress. His Destroyer Robots sent back disturbing images right before being blasted to scrap metal. It sent a shiver up his spine and then angered him. He needed more warriors.
He couldn’t build enough of what he needed at his home laboratory now that it was partially destroyed. LT King’s well-placed grenade lob thoroughly fucked up Seth Pavlov’s house lab. Even if it hadn’t been destroyed, he could only build one or two Ker a month from there. His production line in Savannah where the Smartbots were originally made was destroyed. It was the first target the U.S. Military hit while they still had a few fighters in the air.
Besides needing a new assembly line, the Resistance discovered the location of his home on Jekyll Island. The atomic grenade hadn’t destroyed the house completely but it was basically useless now. He knew they’d come for him again too. Those goddamn Resistance monkeys will be back eventually.
Dr. Pavlov was a decent pilot and decided the best way to get to Atlanta was by air. He sent his machines out to do reconnaissance. Robots returned, confirming that the airstrip at Jekyll Island Airport was still operational. It was free of debris and potholes anyway. And so was Hartsfield in Atlanta. Dr. Pavlov remotely programed a K
er and Sentinel detail to meet him when he touched down at Hartsfield International. He was going to land on what used to be the busiest airport in the world. Formerly known as Art models and now known as Sentinel Ker, were tasked with finding suitable ground transportation once he arrived.
Flanked by Ker, he left his island home and headed for his hangar. The bots had to kill several of the flesh eating monsters that he’d created to get to his Cessna. With a Sentinel Ker riding shotgun, Dr. Pavlov boarded his plane and lifted off.
He approached Hartsfield Jackson runway. Like the sky, it was devoid of activity. There wasn’t a soul around. The airport was intact and appeared as a ghost town. Perfect. Jumbo jets sat as if they were waiting to carry people away. His robot garrison was in sight after he screeched the tires and taxied the small plane toward a former Delta terminal. Seth climbed out of his Cessna and stretched his old body. He heard a vehicle and saw his detail arrive with transportation. The Sentinels hit the brakes too hard and screeched to a stop, whiplashing like crash dummies.
Other than their lackluster driving skills, the scientist shook his head with approval. “Nice work,” he said to the only friends he had left. Two Sentinels got out and stood at attention, saluting. “I’ll drive. Well don’t just stand there… get in, knuckleheads!” he ordered.
They arrived at the CDC after navigating the abandoned streets of Atlanta.
“Come on… Let’s get to work,” Pavlov ordered. He needed to build more Ker.
Robots were sent out gathering the things he needed. He stole from several of the car factories around Atlanta. Honda’s Power Equipment Headquarters was the first place he raided. He stole the heavy robotics from the high-end Kia motors plant in West Point. Scrounging together all of the pieces and parts he needed took some time.
The robots went to work constructing the assembly line. His new makeshift facility was nowhere near what he had in Savanah; it was half-assed, so he was only able to produce a new Destroyer every few days. Even if he could build ten thousand of them, they still wouldn’t be enough. He needed something else. Dr. Pavlov needed something with more firepower. Seth Pavlov needed metal warriors that were hung with serious balls.
He began with a sketch: working on his design for a new Super Destroyer while his bots continued rummaging through the land. Dr. Pavlov would send them back out after coming up with fresh ideas for his new class of warrior machine.
Seth Pavlov looked down at his final sketch… The Super Destroyer was something very different from the Sentinel and Ker Smartbots that already existed. The new design resembled a massive bionic bug. Its armor was stronger than what his current class of robots were equipped with and designed to withstand heavier rounds. His new war machine was a quantum leap forward. The bionic bugs would be faster and stronger, too and hopefully far deadlier than his current autonomic warrior machines.
Dr. Pavlov now had the materials and equipment he needed. Inside the CDC, production began on his Super Destroyer series.
CHAPTER 14 - A NEW BOND
“Women rescue men just as much as, if not more than, men rescue women.”
― Criss Jami
South Carolina/North Carolina border:
Clio heard the steps walking closer. Sensing that whatever they were attached to was standing next to the truck and looking at her.
“You ok, young lady?” Russ asked. It wasn’t fireworks she heard, but rather, the sound of gunfire. Buried in her arms, she kept her face down.
Clio thought she was dreaming the voice until sounds of a barking dog fractured her nightmare into glimmering splendor. Hope lifted her head and willingly turned it as she saw a man’s face come into focus. Russ was weathered and covered in deep wrinkles, but he was beautiful. No one had ever looked at him like Clio did in that moment. Not even his wife.
“You want to hang out here or something?” Russ asked, further pulling Clio to her senses.
Clio got up. “Come on,” Russ said holding his hand out. “I got you.”
Clio took his hand and Russ wrapped his arm around her, lifting her out of the truck bed.
“Thank you,” Clio said looking down at her depleted photon pistol.
Russ looked down at her weapon and saw the indicator blinking red. “Ran out of juice huh?”
Tears streamed down Clio’s face. “Yes,” she answered, looking back at him.
“Don’t worry… I got plenty,” Russ said smacking his rifle. “You’re ok now, you’re with me.”
Believing him, Clio began to hyperventilate. The emotional relief from trauma caused her body to jerk in a few sobs before she mustered enough strength to stop her display. She steadied her nerves and carried on like a soldier.
“Where are we going?” Clio asked, sniffling.
“I live close… just a few miles this way,” Russ said pointing with his rifle.
Clio wore a dejected face and looked at the thick forest that covered over the highway. “Through there?”
“Ain’t no other way,” Russ answered.
Lady pressed her cold nose against Clio’s hand and playfully begged for the girl’s attention. Clio patted the dog before squatting down and giving in to her desire to dispense a full hug. She couldn’t help grinning as the dog tickled her ear with wet licks. Her insides felt much different than the expression on her face. The twelve-year-old was frazzled.
After hurrying back to Russ’s side, Clio looked up at the sun. “Will we make it before dark?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” Clio responded as they entered the tree line.
Russ looked down at Clio with a puzzled expression. “What are you doing out here all alone, young lady?”
“I don’t know…”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
Clio thought about her mother. The most she had since before leaving the shelter vault. “I was at home and… there was sirens…”
“Where’s home?” Russ asked, looking up as if it might be in the heavens.
“RMB… I live on base with my mother… lived…”
“I see… Where’s your dad?”
“He’s fighting in the war,” Clio answered.
Russ instantly liked the young girl; especially knowing her dad was fighting for what was left.
“He must be a brave man,” was all he could think to say.
Clio nodded her head up and down. “Yes, he’s very brave… I miss them both,” she said as tears streamed down her face again.
“It’s alright… We’ll try and find them later… try and relax ok,” Russ said, hiding what he was thinking. They’re probably both dead…
“You will? You’ll help me find them?” Clio asked.
Russ nodded. “First things first though… We need to get back to the house and get you fixed up. That’s a nice cut you got there.”
“Ok,” Clio answered, looking at her arm. “Don’t remember how I got it.”
“You hungry, young lady?”
“I am a little… got some protein bars… here in my ruck,” Clio said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder.
“Grabbed that stuff on your way out did ya?”
“Yes…”
“Smart… Your daddy taught you how to use that?” Russ asked looking at her pistol.
“Yeah… sort of…”
“Damn smart… I always thought it was a good idea to show kids how to handle themselves.”
“That’s what my Dad says too.”
“Brave and smart… I like your Dad already.”
The afternoon still had several hours of light left and Clio felt its heat between each of her warm breaths. A welcomed breeze danced across her skin as they came out to a clearing. They’d made it through the patch of forest and stood at the edge of the highway where it picked back up.
“Come on,” Russ ordered.
Twenty, maybe thirty cars littered the road as if the world had stopped during rush hour traffic. It wasn’t rush hour when the attack happened in this little neck of rural Am
erica, but, rather, a mass exodus. Two Ker fired on the motorists at 2:47PM Eastern Standard Time. A group of people believed rumors that the war was only in isolated pockets, trying to make it to Georgia where things were supposedly… normal.
Clio noticed burn marks cut through the vehicles. Ker rounds left charcoal colored streaks over the paint, rusting along their jagged edges. After looking inside the cars, Clio witnessed human bones that resembled Halloween decorations. One particular vehicle had skeleton hands broken off at the wrists, still attached to the steering wheel.
“A couple miles through the woods and we’re home free,” Russ said veering off the road and into the brush.
Clio nodded. “Ok.” She felt ill at the thought of having to go through the woods again though.
“You gunna make it young lady?” Russ asked.
Clio ignored his question and asked one of her own. “Did you see the one you killed by the truck?”
“Had to see it to kill it,” Russ said, sensing that she was referring to something specific.
Clio shivered. “It was huge… It was different than the other ones I saw…”
“Hell… seen bigger,” Russ, confirmed.
“Bigger?”
“Lot bigger… goddamn things…”
“How much bigger?”
“Hell… I don’t know… at least two feet taller… meaner and heavier too,” Russ explained, holding his arms out. Clio shivered again at the thought of something bigger than the last one she encountered.
The Husky stopped and Russ held his hand out to halt Clio. Lady growled and hunkered down low, with her hair standing on end. Russ paused, searching the woods.
“What is it?” Clio whispered.
“Get down,” Russ ordered, grabbing Clio and forcing her to the ground.
Clio and Cy: The Apocalypse Page 7
