A New World: Untold Stories (13 page)

With his mind mostly empty of thought, except for keeping one foot stepping in front of the other, Andrea has a faded memory of someone calling out the previous night. The voices had seemed to come from some distance, drifting on the night air from somewhere within the valley. Remembering, his hope rises of finding people alive and a safe haven.

The trip down and along the plains is slow, but they draw ever closer to the coast. Settlements increase in number, but Andrea still doesn’t see any movement or sign of habitation. Even though he was exhausted, he knows he heard something during the night.

Where there are voices, there are people
, Andrea thinks, taking another weary step.

Closer to the shoreline, lines of cars block the road. The transition from an empty road to one filled with vehicles is abrupt. Reaching the first of them, he notes they are covered with dust and grime. It’s obvious that they’ve sat for some time. He knows, deep down, that he’s found where the ones who vacated the cities went.

There’s room along the side of the pavement for him to pass. Trudging along, he sees some signs that the vehicles have been lived in. He passes a few with bodies slumped in the passenger seat or lying in the back, all in some form of decompensation. Telling Felisa and the kids to lie down and not look out, he presses onward.

The stench of rotting flesh comes and goes. Each time he encounters the odor, his breakfast rises and threatens to spill out. Gulping, he holds it in through a sheer force of will. Behind, he hears one of his family as they fail to keep their meal down.

The blockage is seemingly miles long and, although the sight within the vehicles isn’t heartening, the fact that they’re here lends some hope that safety lies ahead.

If there isn’t any hope of safety, everyone would have turned around and fled somewhere else
, he reasons.

Drawing closer, the stench increases and becomes a permanent fixture. Besides the odor of the dead, there is another that mixes with it. It’s the smell of waste left uncovered. The reek of open latrines and rot becomes overpowering. Still, there is a measure of hope.

Passing through a line of bushes and trees that separate the beach from the plains, Andrea comes upon the actual shoreline. It stretches as far as he can see to the north and south with small hotels adjacent the beach itself. Each has its own marked-off area in the sand with covered places for guests to relax and enjoy the beachfront.

However, most of these have been knocked down and every part of the beach is taken with tents and staked down tarps. Very few of the flimsy structures still stand upright. Many have been flattened and are only held in place from a few stakes planted in the ground. Others still have the appearance of being lived in. Tents and tarps alike flap from an onshore breeze.

Within the chaos of canvas, several small groups huddle in places near the shoreline. Most have the same lethargic look as Andrea and his family. The eyes from several of the closer groups slowly turn to look at the newcomers standing on the edge of the beach. Even from the distance, Andrea sees hopeful looks register on the faces of many, thinking that rescue has arrived. Realizing that Andrea is just a refugee like themselves, the expressions of eagerness are replaced with the previous look of hopelessness. They turn away and cast their gaze out to the sea beyond, holding onto the faint hope that help will arrive from that direction, hoping to be the first to spot a rescue ship on the horizon, but knowing full well that one won’t be coming.

Breathing shallowly to try and prevent the stench from overpowering him, Andrea looks closer at the beachfront. Unseen before because of his interest in the small, huddled groups, he now notes bodies lying amongst the fallen shelters. Some appear to have been torn apart while others just lie unmoving. Seeing the scene in front of him, the meager hope Andrea had of finding a safe haven fades.

Turning to the cart, Andrea looks to the faces of the kids and Felisa staring wide-eyed over the front. He watches hope die in his wife’s eyes; his heart sickens. Turning back to the beach, the gorgeous vista of the sea, while still beautiful, is a stark contrast to the ugliness and stench which lines the shore. He gazes upward to see if he can spot any contrails that once crisscrossed the skies. They remain clear of any sign of humankind. Andrea realizes there is nothing for them here. Walking to the side of the cart, he gets Felisa’s attention.

“There’s nothing for us here but death. We need to move on,” he says, feeling depressed for even having to say it.

He’s at the end of his rope endurance-wise, but they can’t stay here. Even if they don’t find a place, he won’t put his family into the hopelessness and sure death that stretches before them. Somehow, he’ll find the strength to push on.

“Where will we go, Andrea?”

“North to Salerno, I guess. Maybe the ferries are still running or we can find a boat to take us somewhere. There has to be a place for us to go, but this isn’t it,” he answers, sweeping a hand in an arc to indicate the beachfront.

Felisa turns to look out over the waters, hoping to find a glimpse of white which would indicate one of the many ferries that carted people to cities up and down the coast and across the Mediterranean. Sighing, she turns back to Andrea.

“Whatever you think. Do you think we’ll make it today?” she asks.

“It isn’t that far and the roads are flat. We may be able to,” Andrea answers.

The journey north along the coastline is a quick one, relatively speaking. At intervals, Andrea sees through the greenbelt separating the shore. Each time, he spots signs of tents and lines of cars, eventually thinning as they approach the outskirts of Salerno. With the sun approaching the horizon, they enter the town and make their way through empty streets toward the marina.

The clip-clop of the horse’s hooves on the pavement bounces off the buildings and echoes down the forlorn streets. Arriving at the waterfront, there isn’t any sign of the numerous ferries that once plied the busy waterway. The marina lies empty. Everyone who could has already confiscated the craft and motored away. Standing on the end of one of the docks, his family beside him, he knows any chance of them finding a safe place is gone. He feels sick at heart seeing his kids suffer and knowing that there isn’t a thing he can do. It’s just a matter of time now and a lingering, painful death awaits them all.

He crashes to his knees, feeling the pain but it barely reaches his consciousness. His heart, already filled with dread and worry, threatens to tear from within his chest. He sinks farther down, hiding his face with his hands, and sobs relentlessly.

Tears pour down his cheeks. Intense sorrow fills him. Lifting his head, he looks across the waters. With the sun painting a glorious sunset, he looks to skies above. They remain empty.

It’s the end of the world
, Andrea thinks, still on his knees, grief encompassing his entire being.

# # #

You might wonder why the people haven’t been torn asunder from the night runners prowling the night from neighboring cities. At first, they found a feast from the refugees, but then fell to the same ailments of radiation poisoning. Most are barely able to make it out of their lairs at night as the sickness worsens.

Trish pulls her hand inside the sleeve of the zip-up hoodie. The sun had set behind the hills some time ago, bringing a chill to the night. Although the days were warm, the hot summer days and mild evenings are still a few weeks away. Tucking a blanket around her legs, she regrets not going home to change out of the white summer dress she had worn during the day. However, there hadn’t been time if they were to make it to the drive-in and find a good place to park.

She isn’t particularly interested in the movie, but going to the drive-in with friends is one of her favorite things to do. When the drive-in is closed for the winter, there are the Friday night football games or other events. For the most part, it is being out with friends that brings her enjoyment. There were supposed to be more of them joining, lining their vehicles near each other. During the movie, everyone would drift from group to group, only partially watching the movie on the large screen. However, most were unable to make it due to the flu bug sweeping through the area. Even her current boyfriend, Tyrell, had come down with it along with the rest of his family.

The only one able to make it was her friend, Katie, seated next to her in a lawn chair. They had arrived early enough to get a good spot to park her friend’s truck and set up in the bed. Of course, it wasn’t hard to find an ideal spot as the drive-in, which was normally filled to capacity on summer nights, was barely half full. The illness, from which several people she knew had died, had taken its toll. With the dissemination of the vaccine, the worst was supposedly over.

That’s the reasoning she gave herself for coming out. Both of her parents are down with the sickness, and she still feels a little guilty about leaving, but she won’t be gone long and they had managed to get in to get vaccinated. Besides, they hadn’t seemed to mind when she asked them if it was okay.

She had heard the reports on the news and knew the rumors circulating. The funerals she had attended always left her sad. There had been so many of them in the past weeks.

Trish paid for the snacks lying between them while Katie paid for the movie and gas. It wasn’t the evening she had wanted, but it was nice to be out with her friend. She and Katie dove into the snacks until a lump in Trish’s stomach told her that she’d had her fill. Now, the thought of downing another red vine was repulsive, so she periodically sips on her giant soda and settles in to watch the movie.

A nearly invisible ray of light carries over the vehicles until it casts the images on the large white billboard-type screen. Periodic white specks streak through the beam as bugs go about, well, whatever it is that bugs do. Luckily, this early in the summer, there aren’t many mosquitos, so there is at least that.

School is out and this is to be her last summer in this small town. Next year, she’ll enter her last year at high school and then she is gone. She’ll miss her close friends, but there is no way she is sticking around. Although she likes Tyrell, he has no plans beyond high school and she isn’t going to get trapped like she’s seen happen to so many others. Trish has plans and they don’t involve staying in this town. There is a whole world to explore and she is eager to get to it.

She isn’t sure at this point what exploring the world entails, only that she wants to with every fiber of her being. Several colleges and studies interest her, mostly along the lines of medical research. Her grades are good enough that she should be able to get into most places, but she’ll decide during the school year. The great thing about her best friend Katie is that she has the same ambitions. They’ve had discussions, serious ones, about going to college together. That’s one of the great things about growing up together. However, that’s for later. For now, there is the summer to enjoy…and enjoy it she will.

Shouts rise above the sound of the movie. Glancing toward the sound, Trish sees a group of people running into the drive-in lot from the exit off to the side near the front. She’s seen people trying to sneak in that way before, but this is the largest group she’s witnessed attempt it. And, they aren’t exactly trying to conceal themselves. As a matter of fact, with their running and screaming, they are doing the exact opposite.

Radiant light streams from the large screen, and she sees that there are about fifteen people in the group, pouring through an opening in the wooden fence that surrounds the lot.

“Who do you think that is?” Katie asks, looking intently at the intrusion.

“I don’t know, but they’re idiots for trying to get in that way. They’ll be kicked out in no time,” Trish answers, annoyed at the interruption of her evening.

Trish watches as the group runs to and surrounds the first line of cars parked near the front rows. Forgetting all about the movie, she watches as they begin slamming into the sides and banging their fists on the roofs and hoods.

“Trish? What are they doing? Are they…are they attacking the people in the cars?” Katie asks, mesmerized by the abruptness of the intrusion.

“I don’t know. It seems…well, it seems like it. We’d better start packing our gear just in case,” Trish answers, the blanket falling from her lap as she rises.

The shrieks grow louder and bodies dart amongst the cars in the flickering light. Folding her chair, Trish glimpses several silhouetted figures thrashing inside several cars. She pauses, shocked at the sight of someone being dragged from a driver’s side window. The occupant squirms in the grip of several from the group and is slowly pulled from the vehicle. Hitting the ground, the person is immediately swarmed by several shrieking attackers. Additional screams join in; those of panic and pain.

“Oh shit. Katie, move,” Trish yells, hopping over the side of the bed.

Katie remains seated in the lawn chair, transfixed by the scene unfolding several yards away.

“Katie…Katie!” Trish shouts.

Katie slowly turns her head, her hand to her mouth and face a mask of terror.

“We have to move now!” Trish shouts again.

Screams grow louder, filling the lot. Bright red lights begin appearing in places as some of the movie-goers start their vehicles. Many of the aisles between the cars begin filling with people running from tumult. Trish watches in horror as several are brought down by what she assumes are people who entered the drive-in and began attacking for no reason.

“Katie! Come on…please!”

Amongst the terrible screams and dim radiant lighting, Trish sees life flood back into Katie’s eyes. She rises quickly and jumps over the side. They both hurriedly begin grabbing things from the back and, opening the doors, toss them on the floor. Some of the vehicles that manage to get started race down the driveways between the rows of cars, their lights catching people running in panic.

There are so many people running about the lot, most heading toward the concrete-bricked snack house, that it’s hard to tell movie-goer from attacker. To Trish, they all look alike as she hurriedly throws a bag of something into the already cramped floor space.

Her heart is pounding and she feels like it’s going to come through her chest. Turning toward the front, where the movie is still playing, silhouetted figures fight and struggle with each other, looking like some strange dance. Looking toward the snack shop, Trish sees a small crowd huddled together just outside, watching. Some have expressions of curiosity, some with excitement at watching a brawl, others look on with fright.

One breaks away from the ongoing fight and begins running toward the truck. With the lights of the projector beaming directly at the figure, Trish sees its eyes glow. She feels a spike in her heart as adrenaline and fear run through her. Sheer terror strikes deeply within, almost stealing her breath away.

“Fuck the rest of this shit, Katie. They’re coming this way,” she bellows in fear. “Get in.”

“No…No…NO! Trish, I dropped the keys and can’t find them! Trish, I can’t find them! I can’t find them!” Katie yells, pawing at the darkened ground.

With the one streaking their way, but still rows away, Trish runs around the hood, panic gripping her. Rounding the front, she only sees Katie’s arms and legs below the open door, probing the ground for the missing keys. A glint catches Trish’s eye just under the truck. Running past the door, a body slams into Katie’s bent-over figure. Her friend is pushed hard into the open door, falling to the ground with the attacker shrieking on top.

Trish yelps in surprise and takes a step backward. She stares, stunned, as the attacker begins clawing at Katie, who is screaming in panic and fighting as best as she can. All Trish sees are Katie’s arms as she tries to ineffectually keep her attacker at bay. Not really knowing what she is doing, Trish steps forward and tries to grab the man’s arms to keep him from hurting her friend.

“Let her go,” she cries, hearing Katie’s screams grow weaker.

Unable to get a firm hold on the snarling man’s arms, she begins pummeling his back with all of her strength. All else is driven from her awareness as she focuses on freeing her friend. There is only the snarling, Katie’s whimpers, and her own yells.

The man turns his head quickly, looking directly at Trish. His pale face and eyes don’t look right. The eyes are filled with a deep-set anger that wants to do nothing more than hurt. Several deep scratches along his cheeks ooze blood, which streams down his cheeks and joins with dark smears around his mouth. Blood slowly drips off his chin in long strings. With a quickness that takes Trish unaware, the man lunges upward at her and knocks her backward. Her breath is forcefully expelled as she is slammed into the rocky ground.

Trish feebly waves her arms trying to fend off the man’s arms as they claw at her. She feels a burning along her ribs and stomach as he rips at her dress, tearing the fabric in places. Her throat burns from the intensity of her screams, both from pain and outright fear. She looks at the shadowed face just a short distance away, lunging toward her face as he continues clawing at her.

The growling weight on top of her suddenly vanishes. One moment, there was his face darting toward hers, then a blur of movement, and he is gone. Lying stunned for a moment, she looks to her side. Another man is wrestling on the ground with her assailant. Trish and the man who saved her lock eyes for a moment.

“Go!” he yells, turning back to the fight.

Scrambling to her feet, she feels a burning sensation from the scratches along her front, but it is quickly pushed into the background. Katie is slowly standing, pulling herself up by the door with trembling arms. Even in the dim lighting, Trish sees blood splattered on Katie’s face and streaming down her neck.

“Hurry, get in,” Trish says, helping her friend the rest of the way up and into the truck.

Reaching down to grab the keys, Trish climbs quickly into the truck, her body aching everywhere and feeling like it’s on fire. Slamming the door closed, she barely notices the continued shrieks filling the drive-in. With shaking hands, she finds the right key and inserts it. In the rearview mirror, several others are running her way.

“Close the door, Katie,” she yells, turning the engine over.

“I don’t feel so well,” Katie mumbles.

“Katie! Close…The…Door!”

Katie doesn’t move, then slumps down in her seat toward Trish. With a quick look outside, Trish sees her attacker rise, her rescuer unmoving on the ground next to the front wheel of the adjacent vehicle. Without a further thought, she jams the truck into gear and reaches out to grab hold of Katie. Stomping on the gas pedal, the rear tires throw chunks of gravel into the pickups behind.

The truck lurches into the aisle and she quickly turns the steering wheel, sending the truck into a skid. The passenger door bangs shut with the turn. Sliding from side to side, the pickup rights itself and they dart forward. Turning at the end of the aisle, Trish makes for the exit.

As she speeds down the dirt lane, Trish looks to the side. Several bodies lie unmoving, some in the aisles, others barely visible sticking out from the parked cars. Figures race past the cars toward the snack shop where frightened movie-goes huddle near the entrances. Several take off as the attacking group moves closer. The movie Trish didn’t really care about still plays on the large screen.

Exiting the drive-in, the side mirror clips one of the fence posts as Trish turns onto the entrance road. Scared and still in shock, she watches as three state patrol cars race down an adjacent highway, their lights strobing through the dark night and sirens blaring. Other than some vehicles parked on the side of the freeway, her truck and the police cars are the only vehicles in sight – and the state troopers are only visible for a brief moment as they race to wherever they were called. Driving down the road, Trish is a little confused that they would be heading anywhere else but the drive-in.

Surely someone called that in. What could be more important than a group attacking and killing others in the drive-in?

With Katie slumped in the front bench seat and moaning, Trish pushes her fear and other thoughts aside. Her only focus is to get her friend to the hospital. Even though they had stopped taking in people with the flu several days ago, they will surely still be open for emergencies.

Reaching the turn onto the freeway, she points the truck northbound, toward where the lights from the police cars are still flashing in the distance, and the hospital. As she accelerates, she notes the headlights from several vehicles racing down the opposite lanes. A couple of the cars pull over to the side of the road and Trish watches as figures emerge from within, many leaning against their vehicles as if exhausted. Then, they are gone as she speeds down the road.