Fight 4 Us (Book 10): Ghosts

by Grenda, Brian

  “Oh yeah! What do you want?” shouts Whitney out her open driver side car door window.

  Shaun slowly drives forward and stops next to Whitney’s car.

  Shaun looks at Whitney and sees that Whitney has a handgun pointed at him.

  “Whoa! Easy there Whitney!” shouts Shaun.

  “What do you want?” asks Whitney.

  “You shot our drone down, and we want to know why?” asks Shaun.

  “I don’t like people spying on me. I saw your drone flying around here a couple times. A couple different drones have been around here actually,” answers Whitney.

  Matt rolls his rear driver side electric truck door window down and asks Whitney, “What’s up with that orange house? You live there?”

  Whitney looks at Matt and jokes, “Damn, how many people you got in there?”

  Shaun, Matt, and Jon don’t answer Whitney, but just wait for her answer to Matt’s question.

  “What’s up with the orange house Whitney?” asks Jon from the passenger seat inside the electric truck.

  Andre’s loud music is heard by Whitney, Shaun, Matt, and Jon.

  A small slow moving herd of zombies is approaching the entrance of Whitney’s neighborhood.

  “Saved by the shitty music. I’d love to stay and chat, but I got some things to do today. Ya know, gotta pick up a few things. See ya when I see ya,” says Whitney to Shaun, Matt, and Jon and then Whitney exits the neighborhood and makes a right hand turn out of the neighborhood and speeds away from the approaching zombie herd.

  CHAPTER 16

  ARE WE

  “What time did he say?” asks Phil to me as we are standing in Shaun’s garage.

  “He didn’t give a time. He just said sometime in the afternoon,” I answer Phil.

  “Did he say what he had planned for us?” asks Shaun to me.

  “He didn’t give specifics at all. I wish I knew more, but I don’t,” I answer Shaun.

  “Are we even all allowed to go today?” asks Matt.

  I look at Matt, but don’t answer.

  “I know, I know. You don’t know,” says Matt.

  I look at Jon, Matt, Phil, Lauren, and Shaun as I stand underneath the ceiling fan that is on in Shaun’s garage.

  “How did everything go with Whitney yesterday?” asks Lauren to Matt.

  “It went okay, we didn’t get much information, but it went okay,” answers Matt.

  “What did you get out of the trip yesterday?” I ask Matt.

  “We got made,” answers Shaun.

  “What do you mean?” asks Lauren.

  “Whitney came driving towards the exit of the neighborhood and we talked with her for a couple minutes before Andre’s speakers brought a herd of zombies our direction,” answers Shaun.

  “What happened?” I ask Shaun.

  “Shaun parked his truck, Whitney came down the street, and he beeped at her,” answers Jon.

  “You could have stayed hidden and followed her,” says Phil.

  “Thank you, I said we should have stayed hidden and worked in the shadows,” says Jon.

  “I made a call, and we found out that she didn’t like us spying on her, and that she has seen other drones,” says Shaun.

  The main entrance of Citrus Oaks opens, and three black SUV’s come speeding down the street toward Shaun’s garage.

  “Are we really doing this?” asks Lauren.

  I look at Lauren and answer, “It will be fine sweetie. If you don’t feel comfortable with this, I understand.”

  Shaun jokes, “Matt is the one we have to worry about.”

  “Please, you might get us in trouble with this group,” replies Matt.

  Shaun stares at Matt.

  “Easy now morons. We need to be a united front here,” says Phil to Shaun and Matt.

  The three black SUV’s that just entered Citrus Oaks park in front of Shaun’s house.

  We all look at the three black SUV’s as we stand inside Shaun’s garage.

  Bakari, Cyrus, Saba, and two other African American men exit from the black SUV’s.

  Bakari walks over to me with a black bag in his left hand.

  I walk over to Bakari and shake his right hand.

  “A little gift for all of you,” says Bakari as he hands me the black bag.

  I introduce Bakari to Lauren and thank Bakari for the gift.

  “You haven’t even seen the gift yet and you are thanking me,” jokes Bakari.

  “I’m thankful for the gesture,” I reply to Bakari.

  I open up the black bag and see three masks, several oversized cloth face masks, and a couple boxes of bullets.

  The guys come over to me and look at the contents of the bag.

  “Awesome,” says Shaun.

  I hand the black bag to Shaun and Shaun hands out the masks and oversized cloth face masks.

  “I hope you get the mask that I put in the bag for you,” says Bakari to me.

  “I’m sure I will, but what’s the plan for today?” I ask Bakari.

  “It will all be explained, but I don’t want to ruin anything. This could be a life changing day for you all,” answers Bakari.

  Bakari sees that Lauren is nervous and he says to her, “Don’t worry Mrs. Briggs. You are in good hands now. We will not harm you or your group. You can trust us.”

  I look at Lauren and then at Bakari and I say to Bakari, “We just aren’t sure what you want from us.”

  “I understand, but we should get going and that should help calm your nerves down,” replies Bakari to me.

  “What can we bring and how many can come?” I ask Bakari.

  “Everyone here can come and bring what they have on them,” answers Bakari.

  “Except that guy. He has to stay,” says Bakari as he looks at Shaun.

  I look at Shaun, and then look at Bakari.

  I don’t know what to say, and I’m not sure why Bakari doesn’t want Shaun to come.

  Shaun asks, “Why can’t I come?”

  Bakari looks back at Cyrus, and Cyrus nods his head.

  I look at Shaun and say, “Sorry man.”

  Bakari gets a big smile on his face and starts laughing.

  “I’m only kidding. I had to try to cut the tension though. You all can come,” says Bakari.

  I shake my head at Bakari, smile, and say, “I forgot how much of a jokester you were.”

  “Come on, let’s get moving,” says Bakari.

  Jon, Shaun, Matt, Phil, Lauren, and I walk towards Bakari’s vehicles.

  “We can take two in each vehicle,” says Bakari.

  “Boss, don’t forget,” says Saba to Bakari.

  Bakari looks at me and says, “Oh yeah, but we do have to blindfold you all.”

  I smile and reply to Bakari, “Yeah right, good one.”

  Bakari has a serious look on his face and replies, “I’m sorry Ryan, but I’m serious. Isiah and I do this for anyone that we bring back to our home. It’s protocol.”

  I look at everyone in my group and see that everyone in my group is worried.

  “Are we okay with being blindfolded?” I ask my group.

  “Up to you Ry,” answers Phil.

  I look at Lauren and she answers, “Whatever you think.”

  I look at Bakari and say, “I trust you.”

  “Good, your trust means a lot to me. I won’t let you down,” replies Bakari.

  Jon, Matt, Shaun, Phil, Lauren and I get into Bakari’s vehicles and black blindfolds are placed over our eyes and we are unable to see, but we can hear and talk.

  “I’m sorry for this Dr. Briggs, but the safety and security of my people is our biggest priority. I hope you understand,” says Bakari as he sits in the passenger seat of his SUV.

  Cyrus and the other drivers exit Citrus Oaks and drive away from Citrus Oaks.

  I have a black blindfold over my eyes, and I am unable to see, but I feel Lauren reach for my left hand as we sit in the backseat of Bakari’s SUV.

  Lauren squeezes my left hand
three times, and I squeeze her right hand three times as well.

  The three squeezes are our way of saying I love you without speaking.

  “You okay sweetie?” I ask Lauren.

  “Yeah, the blindfold is a little tight, but I’m okay,” answers Lauren.

  I hear Bakari ask over his radio, “Which building are you guys at today?”

  I carefully listen to Bakari’s radio and try to make out who is talking to Bakari over the radio.

  It’s hard to make out, but I hear a woman’s voice over the radio responding to Bakari.

  “Okay, we will meet you at number three today. Over and out,” says Bakari into his radio.

  “What does number three mean Bakari?” I ask.

  Bakari looks back at Lauren and me from the passenger seat of his SUV and answers, “It will all be explained Dr. Briggs.”

  “You love saying that Bakari. I think you like keeping us in the dark,” I reply to Bakari.

  Bakari laughs and replies, “I do actually, but I hope that you will be pleasantly surprised at what you find out today.”

  “Can you give us a hint at what you have planned for us at all?” I ask Bakari.

  Bakari thinks about how to answer my question.

  “Did I hear correctly sir about going to number three today?” asks Cyrus to Bakari.

  “That is correct C. He is at number three today and that’s where we are going,” answers Bakari.

  “Are we meeting your brother at number three today?” I ask Bakari.

  “Very good Dr. Briggs. I knew you would figure it out, but yes we are taking you and your people to meet my brother Isiah today,” answers Bakari.

  After about a thirty minute ride in Bakari’s SUV we finally stop at an undisclosed location.

  Cyrus and Bakari exit from Bakari’s SUV.

  I can sense Lauren’s apprehension and I say, “It will be okay sweetie. Whatever it is, we will be okay.”

  “I hope you are right, but more importantly I hope they take this freaking blindfold off,” replies Lauren.

  The SUV vehicle doors open, and Lauren and I are escorted out of Bakari’s SUV.

  “I’m not gonna tell you again. Try to take off the blindfold again, and I’m shooting you,” says one of Bakari’s men to Matt.

  “You can take them off now!” shouts Bakari.

  I try to take off my blindfold, but I’m unable to get it off.

  Bakari and his men remove our blindfolds.

  As my blindfold is removed, my eyes are having trouble focusing on the lights.

  My eyes correct and I see Lauren, Phil, Shaun, Matt, and Jon standing next to the black SUV’s.

  I look around and see that we are in an enclosed parking garage and I don’t see any sunlight, but there are several lights on the walls.

  “Are we underground?” I ask Bakari.

  “We are in a parking garage that is underground,” answers Bakari.

  “Everyone okay?” I ask as I look at Lauren, Phil, Matt, Jon, and Shaun.

  “Yeah,” answers everyone.

  “Who was taking off their blindfold?” I ask.

  “I only tried once, because it was on so tight, but something was blocking my ability to get it off,” answers Matt.

  “Yeah, you wouldn’t be able to get it off with a pair of pliers,” says Saba to Matt.

  “Why not?” I ask Saba.

  “I put a special tightening device on them so that you couldn’t get it off without the remote,” answers Saba.

  “Let’s take them inside now,” says Bakari.

  Lauren and I walk with Bakari and we are followed by Matt, Shaun, Phil, Jon, and Bakari’s men.

  “Where are we?” asks Phil.

  “Apparently number three,” I answer Phil.

  Cyrus opens a large door and we are escorted down a long hallway and over towards an elevator.

  “We can only take five people at a time in the elevator,” says Bakari to me.

  “That’s fine,” I reply to Bakari.

  “Okay, I’m going to take you and Lauren to meet my brother, and you’ll meet your men after,” says Bakari to me.

  I look back at Shaun, Phil, Matt, and Jon.

  “We’ll be okay Ry,” says Phil.

  “Take care of them,” I say to Saba.

  Saba smiles and replies, “Yes sir.”

  I look at Shaun, Matt, Phil, and Jon and joke, “Don’t get into too much trouble guys.”

  The elevator doors open, Cyrus, Bakari, Lauren, and I get into the elevator.

  “How do you have power here?” I ask.

  “We have parts of this property on generator, solar power, and partially on the electric grid,” answers Bakari.

  “The electric grid? But how?” I ask.

  “My men were able to get a small portion of the grid working again, but something is blocking the full grid from getting back online,” answers Bakari.

  We arrive at the 22nd floor.

  “Penthouse huh?” I joke.

  The elevator doors open, and I see a small hallway.

  Cyrus, Bakari, Lauren, and I exit the elevator.

  I walk down the small hallway and see two doors.

  On my left is a large door marked 2201 and on my right is another large door that is marked 2202.

  Bakari opens the door that is marked 2201.

  Cyrus, Lauren, and I enter the room of 2201.

  Cyrus closes the door as Lauren, Bakari, and I enter the large room.

  I slowly walk further into the room and I see that we are in a condo that is very large and very extravagant. I step forward and see tons of natural light coming in from the many floor to ceiling glass windows that surround the living room and dining room of the condo.

  I see, towards the back of the condo near a sliding glass door, a person sitting in a power wheelchair and two other people are sitting at a dining room table.

  I look at the dining room table and see a variety of different weapons, medications, and items on the table.

  “Hello brother!” shouts Bakari towards the person that is sitting in the power wheelchair near the sliding glass door.

  Lauren and I continue to slowly walk into the condo as Bakari walks over to the person who is sitting in the power wheelchair.

  “Come here Ryan and Lauren,” says Bakari.

  Lauren and I walk over to Bakari and the person who is sitting in the power wheelchair.

  I get a closer look at the person who is sitting in the power wheelchair and I see a bald, very thin African American male who is wearing a white tee shirt that has big bold black letters on it that says the phrase, “DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY.”

  The skinny African American man has a custom made medical mask over his nose and mouth.

  “This is my brother Isiah,” says Bakari to Lauren and me.

  “Nice to meet you sir,” I say to Isiah.

  Lauren doesn’t know what to say or do.

  Isiah removes his medical mask and smiles at me.

  I look at Isiah and see that he is in rough shape.

  “How are you feeling Isiah?” I ask.

  In a quiet tone of voice, Isiah answers, “Tired today, but I’m feeling much better now that you are here.”

  I smile at Isiah, but instantly feel unsure what I can do to help him.

  “Please sit down and relax,” says Isiah.

  Lauren and I look around where to sit and we find a loveseat in the living room.

  Isiah drives his power wheelchair into the living room and over to Lauren and me.

  “Bring them some water,” says Isiah.

  A woman that was sitting at the dining room table enters the kitchen.

  Bakari gets a call over his radio.

  “Everything okay Saba?” asks Bakari into his radio.

  “Yes sir, just telling you that we are in the lab with Phil, Matt, Jon, and Shaun,” answers Saba over the radio.

  “Everything okay Bakari?” I ask.

  “Yeah, Saba is just giving me an update. E
verything is good,” answers Bakari.

  An African American woman hands Lauren and me each a very expensive unopened bottle of water.

  Lauren and I thank the woman and the woman walks back to the dining room table.

  “Beautiful place you have here Isiah. Must be nice living downtown in a high-rise,” I say to Isiah.

  “It’s very nice, but this is only one of our many community buildings,” replies Isiah.

  “Number three I believe,” I reply to Isiah.

  Isiah smiles and says, “I knew you were smart and would pick up on things.”

  I look at Isiah and ask, “I don’t mean to be rude Isiah, but why are we here? Do you need medical attention?”

  “I need a lot of medical attention, but you are here because we need a good person like yourself and because I feel that we can help each other,” answers Isiah.

  “What can I help you with Isiah? What medical conditions do you have?” I ask.

  Isiah lets out a small laugh and answers, “More like what don’t I have.”

  “I used to hear that line a lot at work,” I reply to Isiah with a smile on my face.

  Isiah looks at Lauren and asks, “And how are you holding up Mrs. Briggs?”

  “As good as can be expected in a zombie apocalypse,” answers Lauren.

  Isiah smiles.

  Bakari walks over to Isiah and says, “It’s time for your meds brother.”

  “Okay,” replies Isiah.

  Lauren and I watch as Bakari brings over several pills for Isiah to take.

  Isiah takes his medication and drinks some water.

  “You got a lot of pills to take there,” I say to Isiah.

  “Yeah, I take way too many meds. I feel like an eighty year old man,” replies Isiah.

  “Maybe, seventy five,” I joke with Isiah.

  Isiah smiles, looks at Bakari, and says, “I’m glad you got him here. This has made my day.”

  “Anything for you brother,” replies Bakari.

  “I heard that we met before Isiah but I’m sorry to say that I can’t remember when that was though,” I say to Isiah.

  “We met a couple times actually. It was a long time ago. I was very young, and you didn’t have that beard and long hair that you do now,” replies Isiah.

  “Do you like my beard?” I ask Isiah.

  “It suits you and your bone structure,” answers Isiah.

  I smile at Isiah.