His mocking tone revealed his disdain, but I
played along anyhow. “If you want a castle, then I’ll make it
happen. I’ll get you anything you want, just don’t do this.”
“Your offer sounds pretty good, but I just
don’t think I’m going to be able to take you up on it, Beatrice. My
dad would never forgive me.”
“Your dad?” I asked, fearing I already knew
the answer.
He smiled and nodded. “You know, I don’t
think I ever properly introduced myself.” He put his gun in his
left hand as he extended his right as if to shake mine. “Gabriel
Scott, at your service.”
Laura Conrad
New Vineyard was coming along nicely. Tucked
up on the rooftops of a mountain town, centered along what had once
been a classically Americana Main Street, the refugees of the
demolished settlement had done an admirable job of building a new
one.
Rope bridges spanned the gaps between
buildings, and they were designed to be retracted when not in use,
allowing the town to stay hidden from any helicopters that might
come through. The roofs would be our gardens, while the buildings
would be our homes.
The first thing that the refugees had built
was the sturdy wall that drew a rectangle around the area. It was
formidable and well-made, with razor wire looped around its length
and two gates on either end of the single street that carved a path
through the center of town. A third gate was built on the east side
of town, and led out onto a thoroughfare that could serve as an
escape route if needed. They’d also gutted the first floor of the
buildings that surrounded the area, which was where we would set up
the mannequins that would serve as an initial warning if any Greys
came close.
Zack and I had parked our truck inside of the
gate, just behind a school bus that had been used to transport
people here. The refugees of Vineyard had already started to unload
the mannequins to set them up, and Zack and I planned to help.
First, though, Bonnie was giving us a tour of the work they’d
already accomplished.
All the while, as Zack and I walked across
the rope bridges and saw the work that the refugees had already
done, I listened to the sweet sound of children playing below. They
were so happy and carefree, chasing one another in a game of tag.
The sound warmed my heart, even as the weather turned icy all
around.
Arthur and David were here, and they shadowed
us during the tour. David excitedly told me about the children’s
building, which had an entire room devoted to painting. His shirt
was speckled with various colors, and he said that he’d painted
something for me.
“I can’t wait to see it,” I said as I smiled
down at him. We were on the roof of one of the buildings near the
south gate, where Bonnie was showing us how this spot afforded a
better view of the area than any of the other buildings.
“He’s been painting all day,” said
Arthur.
“Some of Billy’s scavengers brought us the
supplies,” said Bonnie with a wide smile. “They’ve been a big hit
with the kids.”
“I’m happy to hear that,” I said as I looked
out across our new town. For the briefest of moments, I was
happy.
Then I felt Zack tap my shoulder and say,
“Laura.” His concern was evident. “We’ve got company.”
I spun and stared off in the direction he was
pointing. New Vineyard was built upon the slope of a hill, allowing
us to see far out into the distance. From this vantage we could see
almost all the way to Castle Rock, and we watched as military
vehicles headed our way.
Bonnie threw open the lid of a chest nearby
and pulled out a pair of binoculars that she passed back to me. I
used them to look out at the enemy coming for us, and saw that
there were six Humvees, each with mounted and manned guns.
“He found us,” I whispered as the horror set
in.
“Oh my God,” said Bonnie.
“Who found us?” asked David.
I turned to Arthur and said, “Get him to
safety.”
“We can fight back,” said Bonnie. “Billy left
us with plenty of weapons. We can fight.”
“Not if he’s going to bring helicopters like
he did last time,” I said as I started to try and figure out our
options. “This is going to be Vineyard all over again.”
“I’ll raise the alarm,” said Bonnie.
I grabbed her arm and said, “Wait, I’ve got a
plan.” They stopped and waited as I formulated my thoughts. I
walked to the edge of the roof and looked down at the street below,
my eyes darting back and forth as I put the pieces of my plan
together. “Bonnie, have everyone start loading the mannequins into
that bus. You have to sit them up in the seats, so that they look
like real people. Hurry, go.”
She did as I asked, leaving me alone with
Zack.
He gave me a wicked grin, expecting me to
unleash some deviously genius plan that would save us all. “What
are you cooking up?”
This was going to be a hard sell.
I put my hands on his shoulders and stared
into his wide eyes as I tried to figure out how to get him to go
along with this. “Zack, you’re not going to like this.”
His smile faded.
“I’m driving that bus out of here.”
“No…”
“I’m driving it straight down at them.”
He shook his head and repeated, “No.”
“I’m going to get them to chase me while you
and the others get the rest of the people out of here and someplace
safe.”
“No, absolutely not.”
I had to scream, “Listen to me!”
“We can fight back. There’s no goddamn way
I’m letting you go out there and…”
This time I screamed even louder, “I’m
dying!”
That silenced him and my voice echoed.
“I’m dying, and there’s nothing anyone can do
to save me. I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, but however
many weeks, or months, or years it is, it’s not worth the lives of
everyone else here.”
“I’ll do it,” said Zack, his voice cracking
with grief. “Let me do it.”
“Not a chance in hell, big guy. You’ve got to
take care of our family.”
“I can’t lose you,” he said defiantly. “I’m
not going to let that happen. If I have to march out there and take
them on by myself… I’m not letting you do this. Laura, no. Please
don’t do this.”
Snowflakes were falling around us as the last
throe of winter reared its bitter head. The sky was grey and
foreboding as I leaned forward and kissed the last man I would ever
love. His tears mixed with mine as we held each other close, and I
whispered to him, “If you know me at all, you know that arguing
with me isn’t going to change my mind. This is the plan, and we’re
sticking to it. I’m depending on you to save the people here; to
save the children. Because you and I both know that Jerald’s not
going to stop until we’re all dead.”
“Then let’s fight him,” said Zack. “Maybe
Bonnie’s right and we can put up a good fight here.”
“And risk the lives of those kids?” I asked.
“Not a chance in hell, Zack. Not if I can help it. And who knows?
Maybe I can get them to chase me and then outrun them. Don’t count
me out just yet.”
He shook his head as he held me close, and I
heard him curse. In the distance, I could still hear the children
playing, shouting and singing in delight as the snow fell,
blissfully unaware of what was coming.
“Listen to that,” I said as I closed my eyes.
“Listen to those kids laughing.” I paused and enjoyed the sound for
a moment longer. “Sort of makes it all worth it.”
“I’m never going to let you go,” said Zack as
he hugged me tighter.
“Yes you are,” I said before pecking his
cheek. “I’ve got to get out there and save the day again. It’s in
my job description.”
“You’re not the captain anymore, remember?”
asked Zack.
“I’m not talking about that job. I’m talking
about the job of a mother, or for an old girl like me, the job of a
grandmother.”
We stayed up there for another couple
minutes, but Jerald was coming, and time was a luxury that had run
out for us. I explained my plan to Bonnie, and she was reluctant to
go along with it, but I told her that we didn’t have time to
argue.
To make things easier, I decided not to tell
anyone else what the plan was. As far as they knew, I was only
going to park the school bus filled with mannequins down the road
and then run back to join the others. Despite the lie, I couldn’t
help but hold onto David for as long as I could. I hugged that
child so hard that he squeaked, and when he asked why I was crying,
I said it was because I didn’t get to see his picture yet. He
promised to make me a new one, and I told him that I couldn’t wait
to see it.
After another long, tearful hug, I let him
go.
Zack was waiting for me beside the school bus
door, and it looked as if he planned on getting in. “Step away from
that bus, mister,” I said as I walked up to him. “This is my
ride.”
“I’m coming with you.” He had a rifle
strapped to his shoulder and a pistol at his side. “No arguing.
That’s the way this is happening. Now hop on up.”
“You’re not coming,” I said and pushed at his
chest to keep him from stepping up. “No.”
“Don’t argue with me,” he said. “I can be
just as stubborn as you.”
I pushed him harder. “Don’t you fucking dare
get on this bus.”
He was abashed, and was about to argue, but I
cut him off.
“You need to protect them.” I pointed back at
the others. “There’s not a chance in Hell I’m letting you get on
this bus with any weapons that could’ve been used to save my
grandson. Understand?”
“But we might be able to fight them off,
Laura. Stop trying to get yourself killed and be reasonable.”
“I am the one being reasonable here. You’re
the one that’s not facing facts, and you’re the one not doing
what’s best for our family.” I jabbed my finger into his chest as I
spoke. “I’m dying Zack. Let me go.”
“I can’t just…” His jaw clenched and he
looked away to find the strength to finish his thought. “I can’t
just let you go.”
“You’re going to have to find a way, Zack.
This is a one way trip, and you’re not invited.” I got up on the
first step of the bus, which put us nearly face to face.
He kissed me and said, “You’re the best thing
that ever happened to me.”
“You’re goddamned right I am,” I said with a
big grin and then kissed him again. “Now let go.”
* * *
The bus gained a lot of speed as I thundered
down the hill, away from New Vineyard and straight at the advancing
military. The Humvees were driving up a connecting street to my
left, and I’d timed my escape so that I would be rocketing past
them before they had a chance to turn in the direction of New
Vineyard.
It was a four-lane road, but there were so
many wrecked cars and potholes along it that I struggled to find a
safe path. Snow had begun to settle everywhere but on the pavement,
where it continued to melt upon touching down. I couldn’t help but
smile as I remembered my warning to Annie, although the thought of
her suffering in the cold put a quick end to my gloating.
My Annie. With her fiery red hair that was a
perfect match to her temperament. And those bright blue eyes! I
still don’t know how a girl as perfect as her had come from a woman
like me. It stung to know that I would never get a chance to say a
final goodbye to either of my girls. Jerald had robbed me of
that.
The bus shot past the Humvees, and I knew
that my ploy had been a success when bullets began to shatter the
windows all around me. The gunner in the first vehicle opened fire,
confirming my suspicion that they were here to murder us all.
Plastic heads burst behind me as the mannequins were slaughtered,
and glass bounced around on the floor as I covered my head with my
arm. Luckily, the gunner hadn’t aimed well enough to hit me, but
the momentary chaos had caused me to lose focus on the road
ahead.
My front right tire fell into a massive pot
hole, and the ensuing thud shook me as the bus somehow carried on.
Whatever luck I thought I had swiftly ran out. I heard the grating
of a rim hitting pavement. I looked out and watched as the tire
beneath me was shredded. The black rubber flung out in strips, and
then one final chunk rolled away, leaving me struggling to continue
moving forward. The bus leaned left and tried to pull me in that
direction, which would send me crashing into the grassy side of the
road. I pulled right as hard as I could, but the plastic wheel kept
jerking back out of my grip.
“Come on, you son of a bitch.” I screamed out
as I pressed down hard on the accelerator. I watched in the side
mirror as the Humvees behind me followed. All of them were in
pursuit. None of the vehicles had turned in the direction of New
Vineyard. All I had to do was keep driving to give Zack and the
others time to get as far away as possible.
The gunner at the head of the snake fired at
me, piercing holes in the rear of the bus and shattering more of
the bobbing heads of the mannequins. As the madness blazed around
me, I screamed out in an expulsion of pure rage.
“Come and get me! Do your fucking worst you
piece of shit! Yeah, that’s right. Keep shooting. You haven’t
killed me yet.”
One of the Humvees started to drive up along
my left side, and the bus was already going as fast as I could make
it. I rammed the Humvee, but it didn’t do much good. I couldn’t get
the bus to get enough momentum to shove the sturdy pursuer off the
road.
I saw the flash of gunfire, and felt the
impact of the bullets as they shredded the side of the bus.
Something thudded into my hip, and I wondered if a piece of metal
had broken free and struck me. I looked down, and instead of seeing
something protruding from the side of the bus, I saw a bullet hole
and realized that I’d been shot. I pressed my hand to my left thigh
and felt wetness. Hot blood clung to my fingertips, and the fact
that I was badly injured occurred to me at about the exact same
moment that the bus crashed.