by J. Thorn
Rick and Nicole would then go down below on Helm.
Mack would go to the bank.
If the Dokes were all in the city, then Alex and Billy along with the others could make their escape while Mack implemented his destruction.
In theory, it was set up to work.
In theory, they’d wipe out at least ten thousand Dokes.
Del gave his all clear.
“Remember,” Mack told Alex. “Head straight through. I explained this last night. It’ll be dark until you see the light. That is the spillway. It’ll let you guys out into a small shallow area of water. Hold on to Billy, it will be slippery.”
“I got it.” Alex kissed him. “See you out there and no Sacrificing.”
“I promise.” Mack returned the kiss and waited until Alex and Billy were lowered.
“We’re below,” she radioed. “Light on. All clear. We’re moving.”
“Do not go out until I tell you they are all in.”
“Roger.”
Mack clipped his radio and turned to the rest of the group. “Take positions.” He then ran a block over to Seventh Avenue.
Although he couldn’t see the Dokes, he certainly could hear them. Like a massive swarm of bees, their moans buzzed in the air. He made it to the roof and climbed cautiously up the cell phone tower.
From there he could see everything.
He could see Del waiting, Rick and Nicole by their manhole cover, and he could see the Dokes.
The amount was massive.
“Edge of the city,” Mack reported. “They are here.”
They poured in from all angles. So many, they blanketed the streets and seeped in like a wave of water flooding the city.
He wanted to wait. Wait until they were just about all in before he gave the go ahead for Rick, Nicole, and Del to descend. Early enough so the Dokes didn’t see them go down and late enough that the Dokes were all in the city.
It would work, he was certain.
Once everyone was below, the Dokes in the city, Mack would fire off one arrow, then detonate the explosives he had set in several buildings. A fireball would follow the arrow and rip through the streets.
He spent all afternoon into evening setting up.
It had to work.
What could go wrong?
“I’m not seeing the light at the end,” Billy said.
“We will. We have a couple more blocks and then we will.”
The tunnel was quiet except for the dripping and the splashes of their footsteps in the water that came to their ankles.
“It smells,” Billy told her.
“I know. We’ll need a bath. Try not to think about it though.” Alex held his hand.
“Alex,” Mack called over the radio. “They’re all in.”
“Got it.” Alex smiled at Billy. “We can move faster now.” She tugged him.
“Aw.”
“What?”
Billy stopped walking. “My shoe came off.”
“Can you walk without it? I can get you another pair once we’re out.”
“It’s right here, I can feel it. Wait.”
“Billy, we have to move.”
“I think I have it.”
Alex breathed out and crouched down. “I’ll get it.” She hated the thought of putting her hand in the water. As she did, the flashlight dropped from her grip and splashed. She had to get that.
Her hand touched the shoe and the flashlight. She tucked the light under her arm and hurriedly slipped on Billy’s shoe.
“Good?” She asked.
“Sorry.”
“That’s OK, we’ll just run.” She pulled out the flashlight and flipped the switch.
Nothing.
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s OK.” She hit the light against her hand. “We just need to jolt the batteries.”
Clunk.
They both stopped.
“What was that?” Billy whispered.
“Probably Del.” She hit the switch again and the light worked. “Ah, see.” She lifted the light and called out, “Del?” She aimed the beam of light outward.
It wasn’t Del.
It was a Doke.
Mack gave the order for everyone to go below when he saw the last of the Dokes enter the city. But then something odd happened.
They started to disappear.
From his viewpoint—the Dokes just vanished—it looked like they were being sucked down a drain.
What was happening?
Del pulled the manhole cover over, just a tad. He’d cover it completely as soon he was clear.
But no sooner had he made it two rungs, he felt a searing pain in his leg.
He swung the light downward. He had been bit.
It wasn’t just one, the Dokes were everywhere below him.
He nailed the Doke in the head with the flashlight, and told him, “I hope you choke,” then hurriedly climbed back up. Del knew what was going to happen.
As soon as he hit the street, the blue pulse of light shot up, knocking him off his balance.
Rear to the ground, he lifted the radio. “Mack, Dokes are everywhere in the sewers.” He looked up and saw them coming toward him.
“Can you make it to the bank?”
“Negative. I was bit. I’m heading back down.”
“Del—”
“Sail that arrow, Mack. I’m going after Alex and Billy.”
No real choice in the matter, Del, hoping the pulse-light from his bite did the trick, went back into the manhole.
The beam of light showed a clear area. He hoped that did it, and then pulled the manhole cover over the hole.
“We’re good,” Rick said. “No Dokes.”
Mack exhaled. He felt better. Maybe Alex and Billy missed them.
He lifted the crossbow.
“Mack,” Alex called out in a panicked voice.
She had swung out to hit one, but there were so many Dokes, there was little Alex could do. She held Billy in her arms. He didn’t seem scared, but he had to be.
Alex was.
They were so close; she could hardly escape their reach.
Alex spoke into the radio, then spotted the small crevice in the wall. She charged for it, shoved Billy in there. Knowing it was over—the end of the line—Alex cradled Billy with her entire body, placing him beneath her, protecting him like a shell over a turtle. She lifted the radio. “Mack, it’s been good. I’m sorry. I love you.”
Del wasn’t making it far at all. A massive wall of Dokes was before him and more caught up behind. Just as he was about to say screw it, dive in and end it—a huge blast of blue light powered throughout the tunnels.
It blasted him back and to the ground, and it kept rolling by him, rippling down the corridors of the sewer system.
His face burned and ears rang. Del opened his mouth and wiggled his jaw to try to shake the pain from his eardrums, and then it hit him.
That wasn’t the arrow.
Horrified, Del sprang to his feet. “Oh, God.” He lifted the radio. “Mack.”
Mack had just sailed off the arrow when he received the radio call from Alex. He didn’t have time to tell her to hold on. He didn’t have time to say he loved her.
The radio squealed.
The streets were ninety percent clear but Mack couldn’t, nor wouldn’t, take the time to detonate the rest of the explosions. He climbed down the tower, raced from the roof and out of the building.
“I’m on my way,” he told Del.
Rick radioed, “What’s going on? We’re at the truck.”
Sad and with a cracking voice, Del replied, “Alex … Alex Sacrificed.”
“No,” Mack said strong.
“Oh my God,” Rick replied. “Billy?”
“I’ll find him,” Del said.
“No, she didn’t,” Mack spoke out loud, but not into the radio. “She wouldn’t.” He lifted and moved the manhole cover as if it weighed nothing, turned, only climbed down a couple rungs and then jumped.
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He raced down the tunnels. “Del!”
Del stopped when he heard Mack’s call. He saw Mack running toward him. “Mack.”
Mack raced by him.
“Mack, she …”
“I don’t care.”
“I saw the light, Mack.”
Mack stopped, spun around, and blasted, “I don’t care!” He took off again and Del followed.
Mack didn’t have to run far, he saw Alex.
She lay on the ground on her side, her back facing Mack. Her shirt was completely saturated with blood as was her hair.
Billy was by her, his hand on her arm.
Exhaling the heaviness in his chest, Mack hurried to her.
“She’s injured,” Billy said. “I told her not to move.”
“I said I was fine,” Alex groaned.
Mack smiled and rolled her some.
“Easy,” she said. “It still hurts.”
“They got you pretty good.”
“I’ll live.”
Del couldn’t believe it. He stepped closer. “I saw the pulse. The light. The explosion.”
Alex focused on Del. “Yeah, well try being part of it. They were all around us.”
“How?” Del asked. “How did you survive?”
Billy watched as Mack scooped Alex into his arms, and then he answered Del. “Simple.” He took Del’s hand to hold it and walk with him. “She is my protector.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Finally they were stopping for the night and Del was glad. He was tired and he could only imagine how Alex felt.
They moved, continuously, not stopping at all unless they had to for fuel or for Mack to tend to Alex’s wounds.
She had been bitten nine times, and Del swore he saw one bite so deep, her ribs poked through. Of course, Mack told him he was nuts.
Not much farther, that was why they pushed until the sun started to set and they saw Roy’s Rest Haven. A dingy roadside motel that boasted rooms by the hour.
That didn’t matter; it was a stop Del needed. He used eight bottles of water to get clean and probably drank a third of the bottle of whiskey. He wanted it to relax him, but it did nothing but make him want more.
Nothing made sense and that was bothering Del.
Why did the Dokes descend into the sewer system, they never did before, and it wasn’t the first city where they had to retreat to the sewers. They didn’t go anywhere damp.
Yet, they dropped by the masses into the sewer system.
It was on his mind heavily and an answer didn’t hit him until he stepped outside of Room 4.
Rick and Nicole were sitting there; Mack was in Room 5 with Alex and Billy.
“So you think we’re safe?” Nicole asked Rick. “I mean, I don’t smell them. But that—”
“No, we’re safe,” Rick said. “I don’t see that.”
Snap. That was it.
“It’s you,” Del whispered.
Rick looked at him. “What?”
Del knocked once on Room 5, the door was slightly open and Mack stepped out.
“What’s up?” Mack asked.
“It’s him.” Del pointed at Rick.
“What are you talking about?”
“Yeah.” Rick stood. “What are you talking about?”
“Why did the Dokes go in the sewer?” Del asked. “Why? It was like they knew. It makes perfect sense. It just dawned on me. No one else was a better bait for the Dokes than Rick. Think about it, Mack, if he can see the Dokes and sense where they are, it only goes to figure …”
Mack tossed back his head. “They can see him.”
“Oh, man.” Rick backed up. “I didn’t think of that.”
“No,” Nicole argued. “That’s not right.”
“Yeah, it is,” Del said. “Rick knew the sewers were the plan. He knew where Billy was. That’s where they headed. That’s where they always went. Wherever Billy was. He is right in saying they’re chasing us and Rick is leading them to us.”
“Wow.” Mack blinked several times then reached for Del’s bottle. “Let me hit that.” He said calmly, “What can we do?”
Del shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t think that far. I just couldn’t make sense of it, it was like a mystery I just solved.”
“I’ll leave,” Rick stated. “I will.”
“No,” Nicole retorted. “You can’t leave.”
“Yeah, I will. You guys go on. I’ll wait. Once Billy is delivered, I’ll meet you there. I know where to go.”
“And so do they,” Mack said. “If you know, they know.” He shook his head. “You’re not leaving this group.”
“But, Mack, if they don’t know by me, where or which way you’re going—”
“Nope.” Mack cut him off. “Sorry. I won’t let you. We’ll get through this with you. We need you. OK?” Mack reached over and squeezed Rick’s shoulder. “I’m heading back to Alex. Rick, five more minutes, I want you on watch.”
Rick gave a thumbs-up.
After Mack’s door closed, Rick sat down. “I can’t believe I was given a gift with a catch-22.”
Del chuckled. “I can. It’s a God thing. The whole God thing is funny.”
“Funny?” Nicole asked. “How so?”
“You spend your entire life believing in God, and when you are faced with the real truth of His existence, you find it hard to believe.”
Rick nodded. “Yeah, I know.”
“Tell me about it,” Nicole added. “Try spending your whole life not believing in God. I mean, I wasn’t an atheist, I believed in an afterlife. But had a hard time with the God thing.”
Rick exhaled. “Maybe, I should leave. Separate from you guys.”
Del scoffed, “You can’t do that. What if we need you to Sacrifice?”
“That’s why you have to stay, Rick. I think.” Nicole looked at them both. “Did either of you think that maybe none of us were Chosen to live, but rather, we were Chosen because we would Sacrifice?”
“Yes,” Del replied. “It’s been crossing my mind a lot. Especially, after Fr. Owens. He did it without second thought.”
“He wasn’t even scared,” Rick added. “Not one bit of fear on his face. And Alex … she did it.”
Nicole held up a finger. “But she lived. She was protecting Billy. I think had she not been, she wouldn’t be here.”
“I don’t know if I can,” Del said. “I don’t know if I’ll have the balls.”
“Me either,” Rick added. “I’ll be in debate until the final second. What do you think, Nicole?”
“Nah. You’re both wrong. I think we won’t be scared, because I think we’ll know it’s our time. Our moment.”
There was a pause of quiet, and Rick stood. “Well, I hate to leave in the middle of a really cool conversation, but I have watch.”
Nicole stood as well. “I’m not tired, I’ll join you.”
“I’d like that.”
They both looked at Del.
“What?” Del lifted his hand. “I’m beat.” He brought the bottle to his lips, but paused when he noticed them both staring at him. “Fine. All right. I’ll go.” After taking a drink, he clenched his bottle and followed them to the ladder.
++++
Mack lifted his eyes to stare at the roof where he heard the footsteps. Are they all doing watch? he wondered, shook his head, and placed his letter to Garret in an envelope.
He shut off the lantern and stood. Billy was sound asleep, and Mack adjusted the covers and kissed him then walked over to the other bed.
A smaller lantern was lit next to a bottle and Alex was on her side.
“Hey,” Mack called softly. “Want me to sleep in bed with Billy?”
“No.” She patted the spot next to her.
“How are you?” Mack softly lay on the other side of the bed.
“I’ve been worse.”
Mack just looked at her.
“All right, I haven’t. But I’m OK. Really.” Her eyes lifted to the sound of footsteps. “Are
all three doing watch?”
“Sounds like it.”
“Crazy. How is Del’s leg?”
“Fine. He didn’t even need a stitch,” Mack said, then reached for a glass. “Want a drink.”
“No, I’m good,” Alex said. “Mack … Can I tell you something?”
“Sure.”
“I thought I was a goner today. I really did. In those few seconds, I resolved my life. I really thought I was gone.”
“I didn’t. When Del panicked, I didn’t feel it. I think you and I are close enough that I knew you were alive. But …” Mack winked. “I was still scared to death.”
“Me too.”
He rolled on his side and inched closer to her. “Alex, I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you. I swear to God. You’re what gets me through. If you go … if something happens to you … Know, I’m not gonna be far behind you.”
“Mack …”
“I’m serious. We survived because we’re meant to be together through this. We rise together, we fall together.”
Alex whispered his name, “Mack.”
He leaned into her and kissed her gently, stroking her hair.
“Mack, just know I have no intentions of going anywhere.”
“Good.” Mack smiled. “Neither do I. Now … rest.” He kissed her again, quickly, then rolled on to his back. He reached again for his glass and took a drink. It was then, he noticed the remote control on the nightstand and he lifted it. “Ever miss the way things were?”
“Always.”
“Yeah, me too.” He touched the remote control in a reminiscent way, replaced it, looked once more to the ceiling, then shut off the lantern.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
They drove for a while, probably the longest stretch they ever had without incident. It worried Mack, because even before they found out their ‘cause’, they never went long without Dokes.
The late afternoon was over his shoulder and that told Mack it was close to stopping time. He had a goal of Texas and that wasn’t too far off.
One more leg south and then they’d turn west.
But just before the Bobby Hopper Tunnels, Mack swore he saw something in the woods.
