PREPPERS FICTION
DEVIL’S ISLAND
Indecision is Worse Than Fear
T. W. McBride
Relentless Progress Publishing
© 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Your Free Gift
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Thank You
YOUR FREE GIFT
As a special Thank You for downloading this book I have put together an exclusive special report on the life changing Superfoods that I believe can help anybody.
Are you tired of feeling sluggish, overweight, and unhappy? Odds are you are eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) and not getting enough of the nutrients and vitamins that keep our bodies and minds operating at peak levels.
Enter “Superfoods - The 12 Top Healing Superfoods to Live Longer, Look Younger, and Feel Amazing”
In this free lengthy report of over 10,000 words you will learn about the top 12 readily available Superfoods you need to be using to help you look younger, ward off disease, and lose weight.
>>You can Download this Free Report by Clicking Here<<
>>awesomehabits.com/superfoodsbook<<
CHAPTER ONE
Josh looked around once more at the city, or what was left of it at least. There was nothing to see except rubble, and still there was mud everywhere. the smoke was too heavy in the air, and the mainland looked like a blanket of ash had fallen over it. The sea was darker than usual, and there was sickness all around him.
Most of the children were gone. The schools were located close to the beaches, which wasn’t well thought out. Many were dragged out to sea, and dead bodies were still washing up. He could even see them piling up on the mainland as the birds feasted. Oh, how he wanted to bury them, but there was no time and there was not enough men to do it. There wasn’t many people left, and the last people were mostly arguing. He saw that there were a few orphans, but they really lasted only a few days.
Josh had moved to the island just a few months ago. His home was on the mainland, and when he moved he didn’t think that there was anything wrong with being an hour away at all. Between a ferry and a short drive, he could be with his family in no time, but once a disaster hit, then it wasn’t such a short feet. Looking at what they had seen, the skies painting themselves red, the waters rising up, the tremors and earthquakes, there wasn’t much hope that they were fairing any better than the island had.
All communications had already went down, and Josh had no idea if it was a local problem or one that was national or even worldwide, but hope had soon left them. He watched neighbor turn against neighbor as more blood coated the streets. Luckily, there was no one in particular that Josh had wanted to protect, as he hadn’t yet fit in or settled in with the community. Josh did go check the coffee shop where he got his morning coffee, but found it collapsed with the only girl that was kind to him crushed under the rubble. That’s when he hardened his heart and started to prepare. There wasn’t much else that he could do.
Josh looked over the supplies he had gathered through looting, but he had drew the line at killing anyone. There was a fire starter, luckily he had already had a few knives, some canned goods and a military can opener, candles and matches, some old newspaper to help him get fires started, a simple tent, a first aid kit, a net, and an emergency foil blanket. There was no time for a sleeping bag or those comforts, but he did grab some beef jerky, water bottles, and a few other things to eat.
Josh just looked over his supplies, trying to remember better times, when he’d pack a camping bag like this for a weekend trip or a hiking trip. For a moment, Josh was lost in memory.
The air was crisp and cool, and he looked around, smiling with a backpack on his shoulder. The wind picked up, and autumn leaves swirled around magically. Josh could hear his sister’s bell like laughter behind him at the sight.
“Josh! Joshy!” She said, smiling and running up to grab the tail end of his shirt. Her smile was as bright as the sun, and her skin was sunkissed with a tan that made her seem to glow.
“Emily.” He smiled, looking at his eleven year old sister. Such a little girl, and one that he wanted to protect. He had promised to take her to the top of the cliff nearby to look over the sea. So he was.
“When will we get there? Do we need to stop again?” She asked, hopeful for another break. Despite her smile Josh could see that she was sweating and tired. The back of shirt was drenched in sweat, and he just had to reapply sunscreen to keep that tan from turning into a burn. Josh just smiled, patting her on the head.
“No. No break this time, Em.” He smiled as she tried to hide her disappointment. “We’re too close.” He said simply, making her grin turn wide once more. He got out another bottle of water, seeing that hers was empty. “Drink.” She did, and then he held her hand, helping her over the tree roots and rocks that stuck out, while they got up closer.
It was only a minute or two more before they heard the waves crashing against the rocks much clearer than before. He had to stop Emily from running up and over the cliff. The trees didn’t clear out all that much when you got there, but there was a few feet where no tree seemed to grow.
Looking out over the waters was beautiful, and they could see the little island that he’d soon move too if they looked far to the left, but it was just a glint. They had to drive a little ways to even get up to the trail where Emily could walk it with him. She was gazing out into the open waters with awe. That’s when Josh took out his lunch and hers, and began to set up the little picnic that he had brought for them. Reminding her not to get too close as he set up, it was only a few minutes before they were sitting together, enjoying a lunch and a view that she had worked so hard to get to.
He was shaken out of his memory by the cry of someone else, and he couldn’t help but to look out. Yet another mugging that was going to end in bloodshed. A guy was being beat down, and it disgusted him to see it, but he knew that there were just too many to do anything at all. He laced up his boots, planning to go out again tonight to look for a way out.
I need a boat. He thought to himself, knowing that he needed a way off of this island. An island isn’t good enough. No boats have come. That means it’s no better on the mainland and we won’t be getting help. He reasoned once more, convincing himself that this was the only way. Which means this is worse than what people are thinking. I’ll get a boat tonight. No one can come with me, but I’ll get a boat either way.
Josh was determined to get out, and there wasn’t going to be anything at all that would stop him from doing so. He had already stolen and lied to people, but he needed to get out. He needed to see if Emily was okay. If his mom and dad were okay.
CHAPTER TWO
That night, Josh looked around, grabbing his bag and lacing up his boots. There was no change of clothes that he was going to bring with him. Not more than a single shirt and a few rags. He didn’t need to be weighed down by anything that was going to make him too slow. Vanity was the least of what was on his mind. The bag would make it hard to be stealthy, but he only needed to get to the decent part of the island that was still left. It was all by the docks. The docks are where hope still held up for what boats were left. Most of them were hit by the waves, but there was that one dock that seemed to have made it.
/>
There was also a bar and a hotel that was acting more like an inn. Mind you, there was still petty thievery but nothing like the further you got into the center of the island and back, facing away from the mainland. This island belonged to the devil now, and so few still held any hope at all.
He slowly slipped past the streets that were full of danger, as the smell of weed and cigarettes assaulted his nose. There was even burning, wood and plastic, not caring what it was burning, just that there was warmth and light. The moon was bright, lighting his way and keeping his fro having to bring out a flashlight.
Minutes passed by as he walked that were relatively uneventful, and as a half hour rolled around it seemed like he’d be there without any problems at all. That’s when Josh heard it. It was a child crying out. He couldn’t tell if it was a girl or a boy, but he could tell they were hurt.
“Stop it! Stop it! No! Leave her alone!” The sound of a slap rang out through the alleyways, and he just couldn’t grit his teeth any longer. Nearly sliding on some trash, Josh still managed to get there, a guy was pinning the young boy to the wall. His lip was already busted and swollen, and Josh was pretty sure he saw a tooth on the ground, and it didn’t look adult. The boy couldn’t be any older than eight or nine, and yet his messed up black hair and gaunt features made him look like he was living through hell.
Josh glanced over at the other guy, holding a young woman to the wall, her skirt raised up, and a bruise forming on the side of her cheek. It was obvious what was going to happen, and Josh couldn’t let it be so. Before he knew it he was tackling the guy holding the kid, which distracted the other one just enough to loosen his grip on the mother.
His efforts were only met with laughter and the screaming of the girl as her head was yanked back when she tried to get away. The kid ran off, and Josh didn’t have time to look for him. Instead, he was rolling around, trying to get the best of the guy before him.
“Allen. Are you done playin’ around? Bust his head in!” The guy shouted, and Allen laughed as he pinned Josh to the ground. Just as he went back to swing, Josh as able to get his leg up enough to knee him in the balls, and in that moment he was able to slam his head into the wall. He didn’t know if he was unconscious or dead, but it wasn’t the time to look.
The other man who had shouted out to Allen looked at him for a moment before pulling a knife and putting it to the lady’s throat.
“No funny business. This isn’t your issue. You just walk away because this wouldn’t be the first lady to see the end of this blade.” He said, sobering pretty quickly. Looking into his eyes, Josh didn’t doubt his words, and for that he was torn. Then he heard a crack. The guy screamed, and the knife edged against the lady’s throat, leaving a small trail of blood.
The kid was behind the man, holding a piece of wood with some nails in it. Blood shimmered on them in the moonlight, and the kid went up to raise the board and strike it down on the man’s head, but instead Josh stopped him as the man cried out and held his leg.
“You’ll regret it.” Was all he said to the boy as he kicked the man in the head and then once in the ribs for good measure. He heard crying, and saw that the woman was still bleeding. Please don’t have nicked the artery. He thought to himself, looking at her. It was just a shallow wound, and not much blood seemed to be streaming.
“Sit still.” He said, and she tried to take a step back, hitting the wall. The boy stepped in front of her protectively. Josh didn’t say anything at all, knowing nothing would convince them better than what he was about to pull out.
When they saw the white of the first aid kit, both of them seemed to relax. “Your cut could get infected.” He said simply. The boy slowly moved away, and he went to clean the cut with an alcohol pad he had on hand.
“You don’t need stitches, but you don’t want blood poisoning. Keep it clean with whatever you can. I’ll leave a few alcohol pads with you. I have more than enough.” Josh thought back to the boxes of them he had packed. “Why aren’t you on the good side of town?” He added, thinking of all the women he heard was already over there.
“We’re trying.” The body said indignantly. The mother flushed.
“We lived in the back neighborhoods.” She stated, a hint of shame to her voice. “Tommy looked for his pa, but we just couldn’t find him. Things were gettin’ real violent, though. We know he’d want us to move there. So we’re tryin’.” She said, a hint of an accent on her. He just nodded to her story.
“We’re gonna find him there.” Tommy looked him right in the eye, and Josh’s heart broke. After the wave had washed everyone away, the red painted the sky and blood painted the streets soon after. He felt a twinge go through his heart because he knew that it was unlikely that the boy’s father was even alive anymore. Looking at the mother, he knew that she knew it too. The way her eyes looked heartbroken, but yet begged him not to say anything at all. He couldn’t break that illusion for her. He had seen so many men fall, beat to death, shot, stabbed, crushed under fallen debris, and even drowned in the gutter. He couldn’t kill this boy’s hope.
“I’ll be there very soon… you can come with me, I guess. You shouldn’t be moving all night.” He said, feeling tired as he put a bit of a gauze pad over the area, securing it with medical tape. The mother just nodded.
“We’ve been walking all day.” Tommy sounded frustrated. “How much longer? She can’t keep getting targeted.” He said almost defiantly. Josh just shook his head.
“That’s why you’re coming with me.” He said, looking to the mother for confirmation. So, taking two people along for the first leg of his journey that he just wasn’t expecting, Josh decided to take off. The boy grabbed two bags that were stashed behind the dumpster, and the mother just went with them, holding the young boy’s hand in reassurance.
CHAPTER THREE
It was only another hour or two before they got there, and the boy looked ready to pass out on his feet. Josh looked around, and the hotel, acting as an inn, was actually lit. There was even a few people enjoying some beers in the lobby which could be seen because the door was open, and he noticed that the fence was locked and high. Cars were parked as a line right before you got to the doors, making it even harder to get in.
Josh looked around and saw a man sitting on the cars, and he sighed. He had heard that they were barricading themselves as if it was a compound, but he hadn’t believed them. People really are going nuts. He thought to himself, bitterly. It’s going to be hard to get a boat. If it was just Josh, he knew he didn’t really have to go in there, but he looked at the mother and her son, and sighed.
Looking up at the moon, he called out to the man, waiting for him to get over, but the man just looked at him. Josh called out again, and he could hear the smirk on the man’s face, not planning to move. Just as Josh was about to climb the fence and give the man a talking to, a woman came out.
“What’s all this racket?” She looked at the man angrily. “Your job is to come get me if people want in. Don’t you listen? Don’t be a heathen.” Her tone was gruff, and she looked like an older woman, probably one that was once the manager of the hotel. Josh couldn’t see her clearly, but he knew when he was being looked over. Luckily, her eyes settled on the boy.
“You go let them in, and no funny business, Ralph. Ya hear me?” She seemed angry, and watched from just outside the doorway as Ralph fished for the keys to let them in.
It was only a few more moments before he could leave them safely in the hands of the woman, but he knew he’d be expected to go in with them. Josh entered the building, and the woman turned to the mother.
“What’s your name, then?” She asked, not meanly but surely straight up. People were already looking her up, but the women were serving drinks and up this time of night as well. A few were even sitting with the men. How sovenistic it has already become. For a moment, he was disgusted, but he knew that the woman would take care of them.
“My name’s Caroline, and this here is Tommy.” She s
tated, hesitantly but trying to put on a brave face.
“Can you cook?” The woman asked, looking at Caroline, and then looking over her the gauze that was taped to her neck.
“Yeah she can cook. She’s a mom.” Tommy stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, which caused the woman to laugh.
“Good. Then you’ll be in the kitchen with me.” She smiled at Caroline, and then turned to look straight at Josh.
“And what about you, boy?” She asked, looking him up and down. “What do you plan to do to earn your keep here?” She insisted he answer with the look that she gave him, but instead he just shook his head, thinking on what to tell her.
“I don’t really plan to stay, ma’am. I plan to get going.” He stated, deciding to tell her the truth but not letting his eyes waver from the woman’s. She just shook her head sadly.
“There ain’t no boat out there for you to steal that won’t have your throat cut for it. We’re stuck on this here island unless you’re able to barter with them for the boat.” She looked at him sympathetically. “Of course, I’m sure you could help us clean and perhaps keep us safe, even help cut the logs we’ll be using for firewood.” She nodded along as she spoke, as if it was the best plan in the world.
For a moment, Josh did just think about what it’d be like to settle down here. He didn’t want to kill anyone, and he hated seeing this town torn apart, trying to rebuild and yet so much violence affecting everyone, spreading like a panicked disease.
“No.” He said, sharply and then gave her an apologetic look. “I just, can’t. I can’t stay. My family’s on the mainland.” He thought about his mom, his dad, Emily. He knew that he just couldn’t stay, no matter how dangerous it was or how tempting the offer. “There’s more than just this island still, even if everyone is choosing to forget it. It’s like the devil’s taken hold here. I won’t stay. I can’t.” His tone was neutral, and yet determined. The woman just nodded.
Devil's Island (Preppers Fiction): Indecision is Worse Than Fear (Preppers Fiction - Island Fiction - Survival - Apocalyptic Fiction) Page 1
