The Longest Night

by K. M. Fawkes

  Chapter 22

  “I’m glad to see you’re on time,” Major Walker said when Brad walked in. “I assume that means that you’re feeling better than you were earlier?”

  “Sure,” Brad said with a shrug. “It wasn’t a big deal, anyway. Probably just nerves.”

  “There’s absolutely nothing for you to be nervous about,” Walker said. “You’re just going on a little search-and-rescue mission.”

  “Are you sure you’re not going to change your mind and decide to ‘evict’ me once we’re out there?” Brad asked.

  Major Walker laughed as he handed Brad a pack. “I already told you, Brad. You’re much too valuable to evict. If you get that attitude straightened out, I think we can do a lot together.” He put his hand on Brad’s shoulder. “I consider you quite moldable.”

  A shiver shot down Brad’s spine as the Major followed him outside to the truck that was parked in front of the office. Mason sat behind the wheel and three other soldiers were crowded into the front seat. Brad tossed his pack into the back of the truck and climbed in after it.

  “Aren’t you coming?” he asked, looking back.

  “Me?” The Major acted as if it was a foreign concept. “No, why would you think that I would?”

  “Who knows why I think anything,” Brad said with a sigh. “I heard that you used to go out on missions, though.”

  “There were fewer people in the facility back then,” the Major said. “I’m needed much more here at home than I am out there. My soldiers know their jobs and they do them well. You run along now. You’re wasting time.”

  Brad closed the doors of the truck and took his regular position, leaning against the side wall in much the same place he’d rode in. If only he’d known what he was getting into back then! He could have bolted that night before anyone ever thought to watch him.

  He rested his forearms on his knees and listened to the other men talking. Other than Mason, he didn’t know them well. The soldiers tended to keep to themselves. He also had a feeling that he and Mason weren’t exactly on friendly terms anymore. Brad shrugged it off. He’d never been looking to win a popularity contest with the soldiers, anyway.

  He wondered if anyone else thought it was strange that they had waited for sundown to go on a rescue mission. It would be harder for anyone to see them, but it would also be a whole lot harder to see what they came for. Brad sighed yet again; he knew better than to ask questions now.

  The truck rolled out of the gates slowly, to negotiate the ice. Once they’d traveled a few miles, Brad leaned up, watching eagerly out the window as they approached Bangor. Smoke was rising from it still, which surprised him.

  There was no way the city should still be burning. At least, not unless someone had started the fires again or kept them fed this whole time. Which begged the question: why the hell would somebody do that? Also, who was still living in Bangor while hating it enough to want to burn it down around themselves?

  As they pulled onto the main street, that question was answered. At least, halfway. Shots rang out. A bullet pinged off the side of the truck and Brad scrambled to the middle as one of the soldiers returned fire.

  Brad saw a man in black clothing fall to the ground in the sweep of the headlights. Other people in black came running to drag him off of the road and back into one of the dilapidated buildings. He was still alive, but he was grasping at his chest. Brad saw it all in that too-clear vision that a person got when they were shocked, but in reality, it happened very quickly. The people had vanished in what seemed like seconds.

  “What are they doing?” Brad asked. “Who are they?”

  None of the soldiers answered him. They were too busy keeping watch. Brad expected them to pull into a place that they knew was safe, since clearly they’d made the run to Bangor enough times to have expected something like this.

  But the truck didn’t stop. Instead, it rolled straight through the streets of Bangor and out the other side. When they finally came to a halt, it was at an oil refinery. The huge stacks were dark and ominous against the night sky.

  “What the hell?” Brad demanded once everyone was assembled on the ground. “I thought we were looking for my family.”

  He’d never called them that before out loud, but he knew in an instant that it was right. No matter what else they were—no matter how complicated things became—Anna, Sammy, and Martha were his family.

  “You heard the shots, dumbass,” a soldier barked. “They’re out in force tonight and I’m not getting shot on a wild goose chase.”

  Brad opened his mouth to protest, but the soldier spoke over him.

  “If they’re somewhere in all of that chaos, there’s no way in hell we’re gonna find ’em. So, we might as well do something useful with our time. Now, get your ass in there and help us load up.”

  The inside of the refinery was even creepier than the outside, but Brad was too angry to care too much. Why had he been such an idiot? This had never been about helping him find his people. This was about an extra body to help lug fuel barrels and help keep their goddam trucks running.

  Brad was silently fuming, but he forced himself to think productively, using the time to plan the escape route he’d take with Jamie once the complex had gone to sleep. Between the two of them, they could steal one of the trucks. Brad could drive it and Jamie could hide and open the gates for him. Then, he could jump in and they could head out, hopefully with enough of a head start that they wouldn’t get shot at.

  It wasn’t the most solid plan he’d ever made in his life, but it was better than being the Major’s puppet. And better than waiting around for the soldiers to find Jamie. He simply couldn’t take the feeling anymore. It was past time to go.

  And Jamie had information that Brad could use. Of course, he would have saved him anyway, but it was a nice bonus that the kid could show him where Lee had last been seen. And maybe they’d get lucky on a trail for Anna and the kids, too. He should have known better than to believe they were going to help him look. No matter how much Walker claimed to “value” him.

  He was aching and exhausted by the time they’d loaded all of the barrels they could fit into the truck. He’d be packed in like a damn sardine and he’d just have to pray that they didn’t take any sharp turns. Otherwise, he really might get flattened.

  The sun was starting to come up when the truck bounced back into the yard of the retirement complex. Brad was so sleepy that he barely noticed the number of people out and about. When the truck stopped and he slid out from between the barrels, he realized that the entire community was there, standing quietly in the courtyard. Brad frowned. Why the hell would everyone be up this early in the morning? He was usually the only one who was moving this early. And what were they all staring at? He followed the focus of all the eyes and his blood froze.

  They’d found Jamie. That explained why the Major had decided not to go on the search and rescue mission. It might even explain why the mission had changed at the last minute. They’d wanted him out of the way so that they could get to Jamie without Brad putting up a fight.

  Brad hit the ground running, but a soldier in the crowd had been waiting for him. The soldier grabbed his arm and yanked him to a stop, holding him so tightly that his arm went numb.

  Jamie was tied to one of the columns in front of Brad’s apartment. The one that he often leaned against while drinking a beer with Jack and Charlie. His eyes found them in the crowd, but their gazes slid away. They were just going to stand there and let this happen?

  Glancing around at the crowd, Brad was horrified to note that people had even brought their children along. Was it the same morbid curiosity that had driven humans to public executions for so many centuries, or had they been ordered to do this? Didn’t they know that this could be them one day? Or if not them, their children!

  Jamie had clearly been tied to the column for a long time. The boy was shivering so hard that his teeth were chattering and his skin had turned faintly blue. They hadn’t al
lowed him to have a coat or his boots.

  “Brad!” he yelled, struggling against the ropes. “Brad, help me, please!”

  “What the fuck is going on here?” Brad yelled, yanking against the soldier’s grip.

  “I’m glad that you asked,” Major Walker said as he stepped into the center of the courtyard. “We found this fugitive in your house. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

  Bile rushed up Brad’s throat. He knew that Walker was giving him a chance to deny that he knew Jamie. In his search of the crowd, he saw Ben. Ben shook his head and then disappeared. Brad hoped to God that the man was going to take his chance and leave now.

  “He’s not a goddamn fugitive,” Brad said. “He’s just a fucking kid!”

  “So you’re saying that you willingly harbored him?” Walker pressed on. “Because that would be a very serious offense to admit to, Brad. Maybe you should think about what you’re saying.”

  “I don’t need to think about anything,” Brad said. “I’m not in the wrong here. I didn’t harbor a fugitive. I fed a starving kid. I kept a teenager from freezing to death and that’s not a crime! It’s also apparently much more than you’re willing to do.” He turned to look at the crowd. “And you…why the hell would you follow someone like this?” he demanded of them. “You outnumber these soldiers—”

  The soldier holding him gave him a short jab to the kidney and Brad had to catch his breath as pain burned through him.

  “I told you that there are rules,” Walker answered, his voice raised so that the whole crowd could hear him. “You all know the rules, don’t you?”

  There was a general mutter from the crowd. Walker turned to face them.

  “I said, you all know the rules, don’t you?” he demanded again.

  “Yes, sir!” the crowd called back, more or less in unison.

  “Well, this boy wasn’t willing to follow them,” the Major said, pointing at Jamie. “That’s why he’s being punished. He’s a thief, a liar and a deserter!”

  “Bullshit!” Brad yelled. “He just wasn’t willing to kill for you!”

  “And what about you, Brad? Are you willing to kill?” Walker asked, stepping toward him and looking serious. “You can earn forgiveness for the things you’ve done, you know. All you have to do is end the fugitive’s life and you can go back to being part of the family here—”

  “Get fucked,” Brad snarled. “I have all of the family I need.”

  “I do wish you’d reconsider,” Walker said, his voice filled with regret. “Either way, Brad, whether you kill him or I do, this boy doesn’t leave alive. I can assure you that things will be much better for you if you cooperate.”

  Suddenly unable to listen a moment longer, Brad pushed against the soldier holding him so quickly and forcefully that the man, who wasn’t expecting a push, lost his grip. As Brad ran, he heard the sound of the gunshot. He closed his eyes as he fully expected to feel the bullet rip through his body.

  Instead, blood splattered onto him from the front, warm and thick. Jamie’s body jerked from the force of the shot. His eyes, shocked and fearful, met Brad’s for a split second before they closed for good.

  “No!” Brad yelled.

  The soldier closest to the boy’s body cut him free from the column with one quick movement. Jamie’s body slumped to the cold ground limply. Brad dropped to his knees beside it, checking pointlessly for a pulse.

  The kid was gone. Brad pulled the body closer, embracing the boy and choking out an apology that was far too late. He should have known. He should have known.

  The entire complex was quiet for a few minutes as Walker watched the scene play out. Then, he approached him slowly, his boots crunching on the icy grass. Brad stiffened when the man stopped right behind him.

  “I told you that there were rules,” Walker said, his voice gentle and so subtly mocking that Brad honestly if the residents would even hear it.

  Apparently they wouldn’t do a damn thing either way. Brad was furious with Walker, but he didn’t have any love for the people he’d shared the facility with, either. Fucking cowards.

  “I hope that you’re ready to do the right thing now,” Walker said, and Brad could hear his smile in his voice. “You’re still valuable to the community, Brad. There will have to be some kind of discipline, of course, but I’m prepared to go easy on you if you just admit that you were wrong.”

  Brad stood up, keeping his head down and his shoulders slumped. “I’m still valuable to you?” he mumbled. “Even after all of this?”

  “Of course,” Walker said, and the smile widened. “Your medical and survival skills make you a very important member of this community.” He turned slightly and looked around. “And I’m sure you understand what has to happen if you say no. I just can’t allow my authority to be undermined. You see, all of these people here…they trust me, Brad. I just don’t know what they would do if anything happened to me.”

  Brad smiled. Walker smiled back. Then, with a quick step forward, using the knife he’d given Jamie, Brad cut Walker’s throat from ear to ear.

  “Let’s find out,” Brad suggested.

  The Major’s eyes widened as his hands clamped over the gaping wound, but there was no saving him. His life's blood pumped out in jets between his fingers, splattering Brad’s boots as it hit the ice-cold ground. He staggered back, making a sickening gurgling noise as he struggled to take in air.

  It would take the crowd a few seconds to understand and react to what was happening. Brad knew that he had to capitalize on that. He spun on his heel and grabbed one of the soldiers that had been standing behind him.

  The man had been staring in shock at his commander, so he wasn’t exactly prepared for Brad’s sudden move when he slammed the soldier’s face into the thick column. The soldier raised his hands to his nose and Brad grabbed his gun, knocking him back with it. Then, he scooped Jamie’s limp form up and over his shoulder. He wasn’t going to let them have the kid’s body to add to the pit.

  People were yelling now, but it seemed far away to Brad. He needed a plan. He needed another distraction. If he could keep the residents scattered and trying to figure out his next move, he’d have a much better chance of getting out alive. The first and only thing that came to mind was incredibly dangerous, but hey. Beggars can’t be choosers.

  Brad put on a burst of speed as he headed back for the truck that they’d just filled with gasoline and oil. He laid Jamie’s body down on the ground before aiming the gun into the open doors and firing from as far back as he possibly could. He saw soldiers running toward him from that side of the yard. It took three shots, but the truck went up in a fireball of flame that left his ears ringing and the ground tilting under his feet for a second.

  He didn’t have the time to spare, so he staggered forward, moving in the opposite direction of everyone else, heading toward the blaze. The shock of the explosion bought him some time.

  Several of the soldiers had been close to the truck when it went up. They lay in pieces around it, now. Brad ran over and grabbed as many of the undamaged packs as he could. There should be rations inside, so it made the few seconds it took to gather them worthwhile. It sucked that he wouldn’t have a chance to go back for his own pack or hit up the supply cupboard, but he’d have to do the best he could.

  Once he’d grabbed everything he could carry, Brad heaved Jamie back up over his shoulder and headed for the rest of the trucks. No one had gone that way yet; they were still looking around for him in the crowd. Idiots. They really had needed a leader, apparently.

  In the distance, he heard gunshots. A woman screamed and Brad saw a man who might very well have been Jack fall to the ground. Soldiers were demanding to know if anyone had seen which way Brad had gone and the civilians were protesting that they didn’t know. They didn’t know anything more than the soldiers did.

  Brad saw the moment it all turned. A soldier aimed his gun at the man on the ground, who was clutching his shoulder. Vance�
��it couldn’t be anyone but Vance, not with that big and tall frame of his—stepped up and decked the soldier in the jaw. Then, all hell broke loose.

  “Time to go,” Brad told himself. “Way the fuck past time to go.”

  Brad thanked God when he found the keys in the truck just like Jack had said they’d be. Clearly, the Major had been so arrogant as to believe that no one would rise up against him and his men. Pity how that worked out.

  Brad had just loaded Jamie’s body carefully into the back of the truck and was throwing the soldiers’ packs up onto the front seat when he heard something. Even over the shouts and shots, even over the ringing pain in his ears, he heard the sound of a yelp. He turned instinctively.

  Remington was standing there, looking at Brad with sad, confused hazelnut eyes. Brad eyed the dog and made a quick decision.

  “This is no place for you, buddy,” he said. “Come here.”

  The dog trotted over and Brad gave him a reassuring pat before hefting him up into the front seat of the truck, along with the remaining packs. Then, he jumped into the driver’s seat and cranked the engine.

  Speeding through the chaos around him, Brad plowed through the gates. The truck slid just a little on the ice, but handled well overall. And Brad would have put up with a whole lot worse if it got him out of there.

  A glance in the rearview mirror showed him people running around, but they were just shadows in the light of the flames. He couldn’t tell if they were soldiers or civilians. No matter which side won, Brad only hoped that Ben would manage to survive. He hadn’t been at the shooting. He was the only one that Brad would miss. The rest of them could go to hell.

  Chapter 23

  Brad watched the next sunrise from the comfort of the front seat of the military truck. He’d driven pretty far the day before and then he’d locked everything up and fallen asleep in the front seat.

  It shouldn’t have been a restful night, not with the fact that he’d killed someone. Again. And the fact that he had a body in the back of the truck. That was a new one. But it had been restful, anyway. He hadn’t had any weird dreams and he’d barely moved all night long. He probably wouldn’t even be awake right now if Remy hadn’t had to pee. That had turned out to be a good idea, and relieved and refreshed, he and the dog had returned to the cab of the truck.