“The third floor?” Jesse repeated the words, as if they’d make more sense if spoken aloud. “Why would he do that? It gives him a less clear view, especially of Lex and Cleo.”
The answer suddenly came to Jesse and his heart skipped a beat. “Get down!” He shouted, knocking Jillian to the deck, a split second before a bullet thudded into the wood where she was standing.
“Stay down!” Jesse shouted, rolling to his belly and bringing the rifle to bear on the sniper. He found the sniper in his scope and saw a flash from the end of his barrel. A bullet struck the helm above Jesse, showering him in splinters.
On the one hand, Jesse was grateful for the constant up and down movement of the boat because it made them moving targets and much harder to hit. But on the other hand, it also made it hard for him to make an accurate shot.
Taking careful aim at the sniper on the third floor, Jesse filled his lungs with air. He tried to relax and allow his body to become one with the boat, as it rocked up and down. He slowly exhaled the air in his lungs, before squeezing the trigger. The powerful assault rifle leapt in his hands. Peering through the scope he saw the sniper’s body jerk from the impact, as the bullet found its target.
“I got him!”
“Which one?” Asked Jillian, still lying flat on her stomach.
“The one on the third floor,” replied Jesse, already taking aim at the sniper on the roof.
Jillian climbed to her knees and scanned the area with the binoculars. “Um, Jesse?”
“Hold on,” said Jesse, “I’ve almost got him in my sights.”
“Jesse!”
“What?” He asked, looking at Jillian.
“Look!” She said, pointing towards Lex and Cleo.
Jesse lowered the scope and found Lex and Cleo still hiding where they were before. “What is it?” He asked, but before Jillian could reply he found the answer. At least fifty Russian soldiers were making their way north on Hyde Street, headed directly for Lex and Cleo.
“Get on the radio and warn them!” Jesse shouted, as he took careful aim at the sniper on the roof. Unlike the other sniper, this one was better concealed and Jesse couldn’t get a clear shot unless he lifted his head.
“Tell them that one of the snipers is dead, with the one on the roof remaining. I need them to make a run for it, so that he lifts his head to take a shot,” advised Jesse.
Jillian quickly did as instructed and relayed the message to Lex and Cleo. She also warned them of the approaching Russian soldiers.
“But what if Jesse misses the shot,” replied Lex. “Then one of us might get hit, over.”
“It’s your only choice,” said Jillian. “If you don’t make a run for it, you’ll be surrounded by enemy soldiers in a matter of minutes, over!”
“Alright,” said Lex, “tell us when, over. Are you ready for this Cleo?”
“Yes!” She shouted back. “When we get to the beach I’ll guard our six, while you pull the dinghy into the water.”
“Okay,” shouted Lex.
“On the count of three,” said Jillian. “One!”
Lex crawled to a crouching positing with his rifle held ready and the pack full of medicine strapped to his back. Cleo checked her rifle, making sure that a round was chambered and ready to fire.
“Two!”
Peering through the scope on his rifle, Jesse ignored the dozens of enemy troops advancing up the street toward his friends. He instead directed all of his attention at the roof of the bank, focusing in on the sniper. The top of the sniper’s helmet slowly rose and fell in the scope’s crosshairs, as waves lifted the boat up and down.
“Three!” Jillian shouted over the radio.
Lex and Cleo simultaneously sprinted from their hiding places and darted towards the beach. As they emerged from cover so did the sniper, lifting his head to take a shot. The boat was rising up when the sniper’s face appeared in Jesse’s crosshairs. He squeezed the trigger and saw the sniper’s head disappear from his shoulders. The rifle fell from his lifeless hands over the side of the building, dropping over a hundred feet to the concrete below.
The sound from the shot made the advancing soldiers stop for a moment, long enough to ensure that they weren’t the ones being fired upon. One of the soldiers screamed something and pointed towards Lex and Cleo, as the couple climbed over two abandoned cars blocking the road. In his scope, Jesse could see them hurrying down the street towards the beach. The street suddenly erupted in gunfire, as the soldiers opened fire and chased after Lex and Cleo. Jesse quickly emptied his rifle into the pursuing soldiers, buying Lex and Cleo some much needed time.
The couple ran down the beach to where the dinghy was hidden and quickly removed the branches concealing it. As Lex dragged the dinghy towards the water, Cleo turned and emptied her rifle into the pursuing soldiers.
“Come on!” Lex shouted, when the dinghy was in the water. He jumped in and started the engine, as Cleo ran across the sand and dove into the water. As Cleo climbed into the dingy, Lex grabbed his rifle and fired at the soldiers chasing down the beach after them.
“Let’s go!” Cleo shouted, when she was safely onboard.
“Here,” Lex tossed her his rifle and hit the throttle, steering the dinghy towards the Shooting Star. As they sped away, Cleo emptied the rifle and then withdrew her sidearm, laying down a constant barrage of gunfire. She didn’t stop shooting until the dingy was floating next to the sailboat.
Jesse caught the rope that Lex tossed him and quickly tied it to the sailboat, before reaching down and helping Cleo up. “Lift the anchor and start the engine!” He shouted to Jillian, as he reached down for Lex.
While Lex and Jesse secured the dinghy and Jillian hoisted the anchor, Cleo quickly reloaded all of the weapons. When she was finished, she found a spot on the deck where she could lay flat on her stomach and began targeting the soldiers on the beach.
With the dinghy secure, Jillian steered the sailboat towards what was left of the Golden Gate Bridge and the open water beyond. Lex and Jesse hurried to set sail, while Cleo covered their six. It wasn’t long before the sails were full of wind and the vessel was headed north up the coast.
Standing together on the deck, Lex and Cleo watched as the smoldering city disappeared into the distance. Cleo rested her head on Lex’s shoulder and sighed. “It’d almost be beautiful,” she said, “if it didn’t represent death.”
“Yeah,” agreed Lex. “The Lord really does work in mysterious ways.”
“You were right to trust in Him,” said Cleo, squeezing Lex’s hand. “Come on,” she added with a smile, “let’s get your mum her medicine."
World War III – Day Sixteen
Clearview, Nevada
Dakota Jennings woke up to an empty house on the morning of her 17th birthday. She twisted her long, auburn hair into a pony tail and secured it with a white hair-tie. At 105 pounds, Dakota was one of the smallest and prettiest girls remaining from her high school class. She was especially proud of her golden bronze tan; the result of lying in her parent’s tanning bed for hours at a time. Her light brown eyes reflected the sadness she felt, as she gazed at a picture of her parents sitting on the nightstand beside her bed.
She climbed out from under the protection of her warm, heavy blanket and felt a chill run down her spine. The freezing temperature from the previous night had left the mansion frigid. She immediately grabbed a thick, pink robe from the foot of the bed and wrapped it around her shoulders. Swinging her legs down, she slid her tiny feet into the matching slippers.
The robe and slipper set had been a sweet sixteen birthday gift from Dakota’s parents, and she was beginning to think it was the last birthday she’d ever spend with them. Her mom would have ordinarily prepared a magnificent feast on the morning of her birthday, complete with cream filled crepes, topped with diced strawberries and bananas. But these were not ordinary times.
Dakota’s parents had left on a business trip to New York two days before the Vanishing occurred, and that was the last time that she’d seen or heard from them. She couldn’t help but wonder if they’d been taken, along with millions of other people around the world who’d vanished in the twinkle of an eye. Or perhaps they were trapped in New York, trying desperately to find a way home. Dakota wouldn’t allow herself to think of the other possibility, the one in which they were dead.
In the beginning, Dakota had embraced her freedom and independence, enjoying the solitude and lack of authority, although her parents had never really enforced many rules upon her. Even she could admit that her parents spoiled her, giving her anything and everything that she’d ever desired. Up until now, she’d led a pampered life. Yet soon after her parent’s departure the Tudor-style mansion, located on a 50 acre estate, had become lonely and dismal.
During the first few weeks following the Vanishing, and the chaos that followed, Dakota spent her days as if nothing had changed. She hosted one party after another, inviting all of the popular kids from school, at least all of the ones who hadn’t vanished. But it didn’t take long before her supply of food and booze ran out and when the party favors where gone, her friends quit coming. Yet it wasn’t until the gasoline for the generator was depleted, that Dakota finally realized the predicament she was in.
With her robe wrapped tightly around her, she hurried to the fireplace in the corner of her bedroom and began stoking the embers. She found a few red cinders beneath the black ash, remnants from last night’s fire, and tried to ignite them by blowing gently. After stirring the coals for a few seconds, she tossed a new log on top.
The fresh log began to crackle, as a thin tendril of smoke rose and escaped through the chimney. She quickly added two more logs to the small inferno and watched them ignite. Within minutes the fire was blazing, casting heat in all directions. Dakota sat down on a plush chair next to the fireplace and extended her hands toward the flames. The warmth slowly washed over her body, soaking into her skin and relaxing her tense muscles. With her legs curled up beneath her, her eyes fluttered closed and she fell back to sleep.
She had no idea how long she’d been sitting there, when a sound suddenly woke her from her dreams. She glanced around the empty room and was about to close her eyes, when she heard the sound again. Something or someone was in her backyard. She stood up and immediately realized that she must have been asleep for some time, based on how warm and cozy the room had become. She heard a cracking sound, followed by another and another.
Dakota let out a yawn, as she walked over to the window facing the back yard. Pulling back the lace curtains, she peered out into the winter wonderland. Located on the second floor of the three story mansion, her bedroom window provided her with a clear view of the yard below. Surrounding the house on every side was a heavily wooded forest, full of pine trees and evergreens. A light, flurry of snow continued to fall, covering the ground in a beautiful blanket of white powder.
She could see a set of footprints in the snow, leading from the tree line to the back porch. Dakota knew the tracks were fresh because the falling snow had not yet covered them. A young man dressed in grey ski pants and a blue parka suddenly appeared from the porch, holding a log in one hand and an axe in the other. He walked over to a large chopping stump and stood the log upright in the center of the stump, before swinging the axe down and splitting the log in two. The impact from the blade made a loud cracking sound, as both halves fell to the ground. The young man retrieved another log and repeated the process. Dakota immediately recognized the boy without even seeing his face.
Billy Higgins had been hired by her father to mow their lawn during the summer season and cut firewood during the colder months. And although her father had not been around to pay him, Billy continued to come by and chop wood. Dakota felt ashamed when she realized that she’d neglected to invite Billy to any of her parties. Being one of the most popular girls in school, the two of them had never really traveled in the same circles. In fact, Dakota had rarely spoken to Billy over the years. They simply came from opposite sides of the tracks. But God only knows how she would have survived without him, especially since the generator ran out of fuel almost a month ago. Yet she still hadn’t thanked him, or even spoken to him since the Vanishing.
Billy suddenly stopped chopping wood. He turned around and looked up at Dakota, almost as if he knew she’d been watching. A pleasant smile flashed across his face and he waved to her. Dakota smiled and waved back. She watched for a moment, while Billy continued to chop the wood. Dakota hadn’t spoken to anyone in weeks, not since the last party she’d hosted. She wanted desperately to thank Billy for all that he’d done, but felt guilty because of how she’d been treating him.
She turned and ran across the room to her closet, quickly selecting one of her favorite outfits. She removed her robe and tossed it on the bed, before kicking off her slippers. She slid into a pair of stylish blue jeans with silver sequins on the pockets, followed by a pink tank top with a butterfly design made from glitter. She ran downstairs and grabbed her coat, before slipping into her snow boots. When she reached the back door she paused with her hand on the doorknob. What would she say to him? Better yet, what could she say after the way she’d treated him?
Dakota took a deep breath, and turned the doorknob. A cold breeze sent a shiver down her spine, as she opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. Billy must have heard the door open, because he stopped chopping wood and turned to face Dakota, axe in hand.
“Good morning Billy,” greeted Dakota, pulling the collar of her coat tight around her neck.
“Good morning,” replied Billy.
“It’s a beautiful day,” continued Dakota, trying desperately to start a conversation.
“Yeah, I suppose,” said Billy, stomping his feet to keep warm. “Assuming you like cold, wintery days.”
“I guess it depends on what side of the window your standing on,” agreed Dakota. “Would you like to come in for a cup of hot chocolate?”
“Sure, that sounds nice,” said Billy, swinging the axe down onto the chopping stump. “Nice place,” he added, as he followed Dakota into the kitchen. Billy hadn’t seen the inside of the house before, having never been invited.
“Thanks,” said Dakota, filling a kettle with water and hanging it over the fireplace, where a small fire still burned hot. She grabbed the poker and stirred the glowing embers.
“Did you sleep down here?” asked Billy, looking at the fire.
“No,” answered Dakota, as she removed her coat. “I’ve got a fireplace in my bedroom upstairs. Would you like marshmallows in your hot chocolate?”
“Sure,” said Billy, watching Dakota as she glided around the kitchen. “How have you been?”
“Okay, I guess,” she said. “It’s been kind of lonely, all alone in this big house.”
“Well at least you’ve got all of your friends to keep you company,” pointed out Billy. “Although, I haven’t noticed any of them over here lately.”
“They’ve been busy,” lied Dakota, not wanting to admit that they’d really quit coming because she no longer had anything to offer.
“Busy doing what?” asked Billy.
“Busy with life,” replied Dakota, harsher than she’d intended. “Are you still working over at Sampson’s Hardware store?” she asked, trying to change the subject.
“Yeah I help out over there, although I haven’t been paid in over a month.”
“Why would you continue to help if you aren’t getting paid?” asked Dakota.
“If everyone quit helping, then none of us would last very long,” replied Billy. “Besides, it’s not like money is actually worth anything anymore. I guess your dad would be out of a job.” The instant the words left his mouth, Billy wished he could retract them.
Mr. Jennings owned the local bank and his entire life had revolved around currency and investments. Dakota’s eyes began to water at the thought of her father. Not wanting Billy to see her vulnerability, she quickly turned and hid her tears.
“Sorry,” said Billy. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“It’s okay,” replied Dakota, her voice cracking just a little.
“Have you heard from your folks?”
“No,” she said, drying her eyes. “I’ve no idea what’s happened to them.”
“Yeah,” said Billy, staring at his boots. “I haven’t seen my parents in years.”
“You’re kidding!” Dakota was shocked, and momentarily forgot her own misery. She had always assumed that Billy lived with his parents. “Where do you live?”
“With my cousin Cole,” answered Billy. “He took me in when my mom left a few years ago. She brought me to his house one day and asked if he’d watch me while she went out looking for a job. She never returned.”
“Oh my goodness, how horrible! I can’t believe she’d just abandon you like that,” said Dakota. “What about your father?”
“He left when I was just a baby,” replied Billy. “I guess my mom couldn’t handle raising a child alone, so she followed his example.”
“I’m so sorry,” said Dakota. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”
“It’s alright. I’ve been on my own for so long my mom seems like a distant memory, and I never really met my dad. At least I’ve got my cousin, when he’s not in his garden or off volunteering for one thing or another. I can’t imagine being in this mansion all alone with no one to talk to,” he added, gazing up at the vaulted ceiling.
“It’s not that bad,” smiled Dakota. “At least it’s warm, thanks to you.”
Billy’s face turned red. He wasn’t accustomed to receiving attention from girls, especially one as beautiful as Dakota. Although they’d gone to school together, they’d never really spoken much. In fact, this was the longest conversation they’d ever had, and neither of them seemed to know what to say. Perhaps it was because Billy was one year older than Dakota, or more likely because he wasn’t as popular. He’d witnessed the massive parties she’d hosted, but always from the outside looking in.
“By the way,” asked Dakota, “why are you still chopping wood for me when my father isn’t here to pay you?”
“Well, um, I, ah, I didn’t like the thought of you freezing to death,” replied Billy, a little embarrassed by the question.
“So you’ve been thinking about me?”
“Maybe just a little,” said Billy, his face blushing again.
“How did you know I didn’t have any heat?”
“Oh, I overheard Skyler mention it to some of her friends,” answered Billy.
“Well whatever your reasons Billy Higgins, it’s very sweet of you.” Dakota stood up on her tip-toes and kissed Billy on the cheek, an act that surprised them both. Billy’s face flushed a shade darker, and Dakota giggled. “What’s the matter? Haven’t you ever been kissed before?”
“No,” said Billy, avoiding Dakota’s gaze.
“You’re kidding!”
“Not unless you count my mom,” he added.
“I’m surprised,” said Dakota, her eyes roaming over Billy from head to toe. He had dark brown hair with thick curls and light green eyes. And for the first time ever, she realized how handsome he truly was. She wondered why she hadn’t noticed before. Seeing him blush brought a smile to her face and she wanted to kiss him again, only this time on the lips.
“You don’t need to thank me,” replied Billy, gently stroking the cheek where her lips had touched. He was still trying to process the kiss.
A loud whistle from the kettle hanging above the fireplace broke the awkward silence. Using a heat pad, Dakota removed the hot kettle from over the fire and poured steaming water into two large mugs. She added cocoa powder and marshmallows, before stirring the concoction and handing Billy a mug.
“Thanks,” he said, accepting the beverage graciously and taking a sip.
“Sure. Would you like a tour of the house?” offered Dakota.
“Okay,” said Billy, careful not to burn his lips on the steaming cocoa.