Part 4-
I woke the next morning to the sound of light rain falling against the sides of the tent. When I unzipped the flap and looked out, I was greeted with a light grey fog accompanying the rain. I could hear the sounds of the group packing up to leave from across the parking lot.
Stepping out of the tent I stretched and lit a cigarette as I surveyed the group's progress.
Zee spotted me and came sauntering towards me.
"We should be ready to leave this godforsaken town in our dust." he called upon approach, "We just have to load up the ordinances we found in one of the SUVs."
Before I could reply Zee turned his attention to one of the men loading up a truck.
"Hey, what the fuck are you doing with that?" he called out to the man as he began to walk briskly towards him, "Don't fucking point that RPG at me!"
I turned and began the task of disassembling my tent. Once the rain steaked tent was secured in the cargo hold of the BEARCAT I stepped back out to see if we were ready to leave.
A few of the group members were still securing equipment and checking to make sure everything was properly secured before departure.
Screw stood next to the ATV he had ridden in on the night before, loading a minimalistic pack onto the rack attached to the back.
I walked over to Screw, "When we make that stop on the way out of town, I want you three with me. Everyone else is going to wait with the convoy on the major roads."
"What, you don't trust them?" said Screw with a sly smile.
I shook my head, "No, it's not that, I just want this to be a quick trip."
"Ah, I see," replied Screw, "Fewer witnesses the better?"
"Yeah," I pondered, "Something like that."
"Alright then, just tell us what to do," said Screw in a gleeful tone.
"Stay put, I need to talk with Zee, then we head out," I told Screw as I turned to find Zee.
Screw gave me a cocky salute as I walked away.
"Hey, Zee," I called as I crossed the lot towards the BEARCAT where Zee was in the process of opening the driver's side door.
"Yup," said Zee turning to face me, "What's up?"
"I'm taking off with Screw and the other two," I said reaching the side of the vehicle, "Keep an eye on the convoy when I'm gone, follow the plan. We'll make this quick. If you get attacked, don't hesitate to blow them away."
"Sounds good," replied Zee, "So you'll catch up with us after you're done then?"
"That's the plan," I said turning to leave, "I'll be seeing you soon."
Zee turned back to the open door, climbing in and closing the door behind him as he started the engine.
I walked back across the rain-slick ruins of the parking lot towards the idling ATVs. Climbing on the back of Screw's ATV, I shouted, "Let's roll!" as Screw gunned the engine and sped towards the entrance of the lot.
Out on the open road, I could feel the rain beating against my body as we sped through the fog at what felt like a break-neck pace. Carefully keeping one hand around Screw's waist I reached into my pocket and pulled out my cigarettes. With much skill I managed to light one without fully letting go and being sucked into the fog behind the ATV. I clenched the cigarette in my teeth as I tried to smoke without being hit in the face by flying embers from the tip. After I smoked about half of the cigarette, I tapped Screw's shoulder and passed it to him. He nodded in thanks as he gripped the cigarette tightly in his left hand.
The sun was beginning to come out through the fog and clouds as we raced along the abandoned streets of the city. It was a beautiful sight, in a nihilistic sense. The sun had lightened the darker streaks of the horizon. Now the hue of early dawn could be seen in small swatches of color, playing across the broken and decaying remnants of civilization. Buildings stood as jagged tombstones, erected in memory of the potentate gods who had dwelt in them before the fall of man.
My attention was drawn away from the unfolding beauty of the ruined city by a sharp turn, as Screw slid the ATV around a corner onto a dilapidated street.
"Whahaha!" shouted Screw into the wind as he gunned the throttle, flying the ATV across a small pile of debris in the middle of the street, "Hang on, chief!"
Looking out ahead of the road racing to meet us, I tried to focus my vision so that I could see where we were going. My attempt was unsuccessful since the rain and wind blurred what little vision I had. I was essentially blind in the fog.
"We're gonna jump it," shouted Screw.
"What, jump what?" I shouted with a sudden panic.
Screw shot a glance back in my direction as he replied over the sound of the wind, "We're on an overpass that's clear. It's the quickest way to our destination."
"Then why are we jumping?" I shouted back.
Screw gave me a maniacal smile, "Well, part of the road fell through. Don't worry though, the road base buckled in to form the perfect launch ramp!"
"What?" I could feel real panic now, there was nothing I could do to stop this.
"I didn't get to try this yesterday when we got the ATVs" shouted back Screw, "I didn't have any reason to go over there!"
"There has to be another way!" I protested.
"Not now!" he shouted, gunning the throttle to full, "Hold on and don't fucking do ANYTHING. I've got this!"
I could hear myself screaming into the wind as I clutched Screw's waist tightly. Screw's lips were peeled back by the speed and wind, forming a devilish grin that showed all of his teeth.
The ATV ripped off the edge of the pavement at a tremendous speed and I could feel the dead space in the air all around us. Time felt as if it had frozen in amber as the ATV's wheels spun freely in the air. The rain continued to fall on us as we descended back to earth, speeding up with each passing second.
Without warning, there was a jarring crash as the wheels of the ATV connected with the pavement. Rubber squealed in protest as I felt my body thrown into Screw's back. The back tires fishtailed wildly along the road as we continued moving forwards in a sliding motion, away from the perilous drop into oblivion. Screw touched the breaks lightly, bringing us to a full stop.
"Oh, shit..." I breathed in relief, taking my hands off Screw.
"Told ya' we'd make it," said Screw in a cheery voice as he turned around to face me, "Wanna do that on the way back?"
"Haha... FUCK NO." I replied quickly before looking back, "Where are the other two?"
Screw shrugged indifferently, "Either they perished in the attempt to cross, or they took a different route than us."
Pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket Screw offered me one, "For earlier," he said as he took one for himself and lit it.
Lighting my cigarette I paused to look at the bag Screw had tied down on the rack earlier, "What's in there?" I asked.
"Party favors," said Screw with a wink.
"Alright then," I said returning to my seat, "Let's get going!"
Screw hopped back on, opening up the throttle as we took off again into the looming fog. The headlights of the ATV cut a path through the fog as we raced down the empty stretch of freeway. More of the clouds had begun to clear overhead, allowing whisps of early morning light to filter down through the overcast grey of the impending storm above.
Up ahead a green metal sign with faded white lettering appeared out of the fog.
"That's us!" shouted back Screw over the deafening noise of the wind mixed with the ATV's engine.
The acrid smell of smoke mingling with gasoline met my senses as it mixed with the damp and earthy smell brought on by the rain. I wiped the rain away from my eyes as Screw drifted the ATV into the exit lane ramp.
At the ramp's turn, Screw eased off the throttle to keep us from flying off the edge. With practiced ease, he let the ATV coast through the wide turn, down to the street below where a series of broken traffic lights bobbed on their supporting wires. Other than our presence, the street appeared to be completely empty, filled with a stiff silence.
Screw turned the ATV onto the road and continued to drive, "Should be right down that street," he said pointing off to his right.
"Where do you think the others are?" I asked again.
"Eh, they'll be there," Screw said with a sour expression, "They pussied out of the jump."
"Can't blame them," I replied.
"Pssh... Whatever," said Screw without turning, "Hey, that's them!"
Up in the distance, two sets of headlights were approaching the intersection we were moving towards.
"Hey pussies!" shouted Screw at the top of his lungs.
"Fuck... You...!" came the muffled reply from the distance.
"Haha!" laughed Screw as we sped past the other two at the intersection.
I glanced back and saw that they had begun to follow us as we turned onto the street Screw had pointed to earlier. As we rode down the street I reflected on the scene of despair. There was nothing to be seen in this neighborhood other than empty homes with overgrown lawns and broken windows. Weeds grew freely and trash had collected in a spattering of color, dotting the landscape at random intervals. The paint peeled silently in the fog, left alone with the all-destroying hand of nature. Time was slowly reclaiming the land.
A few pieces of paper floated by us in a lazy twirl as Screw drove on through the neighborhood.
"Creepy," muttered Screw under his breath.
I silently nodded as I felt the bag behind me for reassurance.
Screw began to slow the ATV down as he pulled up on the crumbling remains of the curb in front of a whitewashed house. The paint had begun peeling away in large patches, exposing the naked and water-swollen grey of wood. Most of the windows had been boarded over with two by fours. The remaining shards of glass in the windows reflected the sky's light in a series of eerie fractals. The grass had long since turned into a wild crop of weeds and assorted plant life. A large, gnarled oak tree grew on the left side of the yard, the roots partially exposed by erosion. The house's roof was a ragtag mess of scattered shingles, some of which now lay in the grass, rotting at the mercy of the elements. Surprisingly, the front door still had a screen on it. The screen was in disrepair, having been severely worn through with holes torn in the mesh as if a recent struggle had happened close by.
As we dismounted the ATV the rain dripped in quiet tempo from the house's broken gutter. Screw walked to the bag and unzipped it, exposing a menagerie of weaponry. Reaching into the bag he withdrew a small rifle and a pistol. Without a word, Screw handed me the pistol before nodding towards the house.
"I'll cover you," he said as he cocked the rifle.
I waded through the wet weeds towards the front porch as Screw followed at a short distance. The porch was a mess of rotting planks, forcing me to chose my steps carefully as I climbed to the front door.
On the side of the door lay a weathered teddy bear. Its fur was mottled from the rain and dirt seeped out of its stuffing from a hole in its side. Its remaining beady eye shined up at me with intensity as I reached for the screen door and pulled it open.
The door gave in easily when I opened it, exposing the gaping maw of darkness inside. Screw stepped up beside me and clicked the button on a tactical flashlight attached to his rifle. Suddenly the darkness of the house was illuminated. The light cut a path through piles of trash and grime that had built up inside from neglect. Then I froze. There on the carpet was a trail of blood and footprints that appeared fresh.
"Shit..." whispered Screw motioning to my pistol, "Be ready to use that."
We silently crept further into the house. I could feel the air being sucked out of my lungs by the great and terrible silence around us. All around were signs of a struggle. The drywall of one wall had a deep imprint in it on, presumably when someone had been thrown. Trash was strewn about the center of the room, spattered with more blood. A single shoe lay sideways between pieces of a vase.
Bending down I examined the shoe. It was a pink running shoe, soaked in fresh blood. My focus became pointed and I ignored the sensation of blood and water soaking the knee of my jeans. The blood stuck to my shaking hand as I stood up with a strange feeling overcoming my senses.
My mind flashed back to memories of the girl, returning to old, primal emotions that had never found fulfillment. I could clearly remember the alternate reality I had visited, where the other-self had sat on the sink and watched her die of an overdose, while I struggled in vain to save her. Anger mixed with despair as they flared deep inside of me; now I knew why the motherfucker had found her death so funny. She would never make it to the New World with me, no matter how much I wished it so.
I returned from my feelings, standing over the fallen shoe, staring at it unbelievingly. Screw's rifle was the only source of light as I watched the stain on the knee of my jeans continue to bloom. The moment felt as if it had frozen again, as the drumming of rain was the only sound to be heard. Screw stood silently watching me with an intent gaze, waiting to see what I would do.
A moment later the rage and despair enveloped me fully. I felt new darkness take grip inside of my soul as I began a deliberate march through the house, following the trail of blood to the open back door. The screen door swung wildly in the increasing gusts of wind as storm clouds began to gather overhead. Screw's light shone brightly in the darkness of the yard, illuminating more overgrowth, bordered by a chainlink fence. Fog hung in the distance as the rain began to fall fast and hard from the sky.
In the middle of the yard knelt a man in a small clearing of weeds. The trail of blood ended in front of him. His head hung low as the rain rolled off his head onto his slumped shoulders. The rain was mingled with blood and tears on his face as he looked up at my face. His hands were covered in blood which ran off into the weeds in little rivulets.
My attention moved away from the man when I saw what lay in front of him. There, lying face-up was the girl, her head was turned away from me as if she were ashamed to be seen dead. One of her arms lay askew near her face, the slightly curved fingers of her hand partially submerged in a puddle of bloody mud. The other arm was flailed out, like the broken wing of a bird. Her dark hair lay splayed across the curve of her head, hiding the details of her face. I could only make out the pale blue of her cold lips contrasted against the stark white of the skin across her lower cheek. The paleness of her neck contrasted with the long-sleeve shirt that was splashed with mud from the fall. Her legs were bent, as if the killing blow had knocked her off her feet. A bright metal handle protruded from the side of her ribcage. Blood clotted in a dark patch around the blade of the ax in her side,
soaking into the shirt.
The ax had once been clean and immaculate, just as she had been. She had held that place of perfect beauty and virtue that only the silent depths of my mind could create. Now the ax stood, stained. The remnants of her life had been ripped from her in this macabre sacrifice of all that remained to signify beauty and innocence in this tragic and violent world. The rain and wind gleefully closed around their sacrifice as truly animalistic fury gripped me in its talons.
"You..." I growled, grabbing the man's shoulder roughly as I jerked him backward, "YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" I screamed at the top of my lungs, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
The man gave me a deplorable look, his tear swollen eyes filled with terror. His mouth hung agape, showing a collection of rotting teeth. The wind howled about us with an increasing frenzy.
I screamed with a guttural roar as I struck him across the face with the pistol. The man tumbled backward into the weeds, falling beside the girl's lifeless body. His cheek began pouring blood where I had struck him. Frantically he tried to stop the bleeding with one hand as I towered over him.
"WHY..." I screamed, " WHY DID YOU DO IT?.."
The man cowered beneath me as he mumbled a reply in a voice filled with terror, "She was infected..."
"No..." I groaned, "WE COULD HAVE SAVED HER!"
"No one can stop the plague.." murmured the man below me.
"I'm the Saviour!" I yelled down at him, "The bringer of the New World, the one to rise from man's fall! I can do whatever the fuck I want to do! We came here to save her! But you KILLED her!"
"I.. I didn't know.." whimpered the man as he tried to drag himself away from me.
"NO" I roared at him, stomping down my foot near him, causing the mixture of bloody mud to splash against his face.
Wincing, the man cowered again, "Don't hurt me." he begged.
I turned to face Screw, who sat watching from the porch without a word, "He's mine," I growled, "Don't shoot him."
Screw gave a toothy grin in reply and proceeded to light a cigarette. It was clear that I had his approval.
"You got it," he said as he inhaled from the cigarette.
I stepped over the man and took ahold of the heavy ax handle with both hands. Using all my strength I heaved it upwards, dislodging it from the girl's chest with a sucking noise. The blade swung freely through the air, followed by a spray of blood, tissue, and bone fragments.
As I felt the primal rage gathered inside of me, I lifted the ax high overhead. With a snarl on my face I brought down the ax as hard as I could on the man's neck. With a cry of utter anguish, I pulled the ax free and brought it down again and again on the man's body in a spray of blood and bone.
Finally, I let go of the ax's handle and staggered back from the bodies lying crumpled in the muddy weeds. After a few seconds of rain pelting down on my face, I returned to the girl's body and knelt down next to her. I took her head in my arms and cradled it in my lap as my face hung down. Hot tears stung my cheeks as they ran down the sides of my mouth, drawn back in an expression of mortal sorrow.
A solitary flash of lightning crossed the sky, followed by the peal of thunder, breaking the sound of falling rain and silence. The beam of Screw's flashlight illuminated my kneeling figure as if I were the lone actor on the world's stage. After several minutes, I let go of the girl's head and stood up. I was now soaked in a mixture of bloody mud and rain, but I hardly noticed.
"Help me carry him inside," I said to Screw, pointing at the man's body.
Screw flicked away his cigarette and dutifully stood up, trudging over through the weeds next to the fallen man. Together we picked up what remained of him and carried his body back into the house.
"Now help me with... her," I croaked to Screw.
With a solemn nod Screw followed me back into the yard where the girl's body lay.
"What are we going to do with her?" asked Screw, standing over her body.
"We'll find somewhere to bury her properly," I replied in a choked voice.
"Alright," said Screw without argument. "Hang on."
Screw walked back into the house to the front, returning a minute later with the other two who had come with us.
"Take that tarp we have," he said motioning to one of the men, "Wrap the body up good. We're going to put it on one of the racks."
I turned away as the men went to work on her body, I was sickened by the sight now. I wanted nothing to do with this place. Stepping inside out of the rain, I lit a cigarette and took shaky inhales from it. Then I heard a faint crying noise from further inside the house. Wary confusion swept over me as I stepped further in to investigate. In one of the side rooms sat a small playpen. Inside was a young boy, around two or three years old. Reaching down I picked him up to try and satiate his tears. He must have heard the commotion of the night and become scared.
His crying stopped as I held him, and a strange feeling swept over me. This must be the child the other-self had mentioned to me the night before. Turning with the child still in my arms, I walked out of the room, back towards the entrance of the house.
Screw and the other two men stood out front near the ATVs. They watched without any indication of surprise as I walked towards them, holding the child against my chest.
"He's coming with us," I called out to Screw.
"Your call," replied Screw, "But I agree, I don't want to leave a kid alone in there. Plus the house is rigged."
As I stepped up to the ATV, Screw handed me a small remote, "Just push the button when you're ready."
With a quick tap I felt the button depress. The house burst into a ball of orange flame before it imploded into a series of small fires, each one battling the falling rain with a hissing noise.
Silently I climbed on the back of Screw's ATV as he prepared to leave. Screw opened the throttle and we took off down the rain-soaked street. I glanced back at the other two ATVs before I felt the child squirming against the inside of my jacket. I thought about my conversation with the other-self as the ATV gained speed.
I decided at that moment saving the boy was worth the chance.
Something good had to come out of the violence and passions of the night.